Question

Brett is 78 years of age and his best friend Thomas is 72. Brett is in great health and God willing, will probably live into his late 80s or early 90s. On the other hand, Thomas is in poor health and has only been given 1-2 years to live. Due to what psychologists call _______Brett is actually in better cognitive shape than Thomas though Thomas is six years younger.​

Answer 1

According to psychologists, Brett is actually in better cognitive shape than Thomas, despite being six years older. This phenomenon is due to the concept of cognitive reserve, which refers to the brain’s ability to compensate for age-related changes and damage. Cognitive reserve is built up over a lifetime through experiences such as education, occupation, and leisure activities. Brett’s healthy lifestyle and habits may have contributed to his cognitive reserve, while Thomas’s poor health may have depleted his cognitive reserve.