The Challenges of Cognitive Aging: Integrating Approaches from Neuroscience to Intergenerational Relationships

Abstract

The individual and social challenges created by population aging and especially the growing number of people labeled with dementia demand new innovative and comprehensive approaches. A broader integrative biology needs to replace reductionist, overly simplistic biomedical solutions that dominate today's scientific discourse. For example Alzheimer's is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized more fully at a system rather than molecular level. Coordinated scientific and community responses are needed, including new attention to intergenerational relationships, innovative learning organizations, and empowering health practices. The Intergenerational School is a successful public charter school that provides learning opportunism for elementary school children and adults of various ages including those with dementia. InterWell is a planned primary care and public health practice to be associated with the school. Both represent innovations that address growing social challenges associated with changes in population demographics and climate.

Keywords:

• dementia
• Alzheimer's
• intergenerational learning
• cognitive aging
• primary care
• public health

Acknowledgments

Editors note: The editors thank Dr. Peter Whitehouse for his contribution of this invited paper for volume 11, issue 2. Please note this manuscript is being co-published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (JAD).