Cognitive Aging: Progress in Understanding and Opportunities for Action

This month's Institute of Medicine (IOM) report summary is featured not because it is unique to military or veteran health but because it is relevant to each and every human being. The topic is cognitive aging. We understandably spend extensive resources and research on diseases like Alzheimer's and other dementias that put our cognitive functioning in a tailspin. But we have not spent nearly enough time planning and devoting resources to understanding the consequences of natural aging of the brain, which can affect cognition both positively and negatively. The IOM was asked to examine this important, omnipresent, and natural process. The report offers advice to individuals, clinicians, educators, policy makers, private industry, and community planners about ways to help mitigate the negative impacts of cognitive aging and promote health across the lifespan. Learning about this topic will count as good brain exercise.