Cognitive reserve to modify the trajectory of dementia: what does it represent for Oaxaca, Mexico?

Abstract

The objective of this review article is to highlight variables that the Oaxacan population has that favor cognitive reserve (CR) and which is essential to promote healthy aging. These protective factors that prevent or delay evolution of neurodegenerative disease may enable toleration of age-related changes, maintaining cognitive function despite disease. Research in countries with a high level of development shows that certain lifestyles delay the onset of dementia, but what happens in developing countries like Mexico and it’s cities, like Oaxaca, where the population has particular characteristics according to health conditions, education, housing, and traditions. What could provide them with CR, despite not having the same quality of life as first world countries? Professional literature from 2014 to 2022 related to CR and dementia internationally and in Mexico was reviewed using Pub-Med, BMC, and Google Scholar. Substantial literature exists in Europe and North America, Oaxaca has various variables which favor CR, most of them have not been properly assessed by research, leading to a disadvantage for people living in Oaxaca compares to older adults in developed countries. Oaxaca, Mexico, has some variables that favor CR, but it does not have all those already documented by research, which leaves older adults living in states like Oaxaca at a disadvantage compared to older adults in developed countries. Although the manifestations of cognitive decline do not appear uniformly, CR may prevent or delay evolution of dementia maintaining quality of life and activities of the elderly. It is essential to carry out research on non-traditional variables that may be enhancing CR and that has not been addressed in developing countries.

Keywords

• Older adult. Aging. Dementia. Cognitive reserve. Lifestyle.