NeuroTrax Science Team and Glen M. Doniger, PhD
Cognitive aging is no longer viewed as a one-size-fits-all process. Longitudinal research shows that older adults follow distinct cognitive trajectories shaped by lifestyle, health, and environment rather than age alone. Across large population studies, three consistent patterns emerge: early rapid decline; gradual or minimal change; and late decline. These trajectories differ not only in outcomes but in how responsive they are to lifestyle factors including education, cognitive engagement, and social interaction [1].
Lifestyle factors play a decisive role in influencing the direction and pace of cognitive change over time. Engagement in cognitively demanding activities, including sustained learning, computer use, and word-based tasks, is associated with preserved cognitive performance, while disengagement increases vulnerability to decline [1]. Physical activity is another important factor that shapes cognitive trajectories. Research shows that even a single session of aerobic or resistance exercise can temporarily improve attention and executive function, suggesting that exercise directly supports the brain systems responsible for focus, decision-making, and cognitive control across different age groups [2].
Nutrition adds another important layer, influencing cognitive function through both cumulative brain health and immediate metabolic effects. Longitudinal studies in men with cardiovascular disease show that poor adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet predicts steeper decline in global cognition, executive function, and visuospatial processing over nearly two decades [3]. These findings highlight that dietary patterns earlier in life can influence cognitive trajectories many years later. Short-term nutritional states also matter. Research shows that changes in eating patterns can alter cognitive performance over short time frames, with one study demonstrating that a 12–16 hour fast in young, healthy adults can slow information processing, reduce visual spatial performance, and impact attention/executive function, depending on task demands and time of day [4].
Understanding these trajectories requires more than occasional screening. Repeated measurement is essential to distinguish normal aging from a clinically significant cognitive trajectory. Digital neuromarkers like NeuroTrax have been used across a wide range of research contexts, including studies of diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle changes, to capture subtle changes in memory, attention, and executive function [2,3,5]. Precision measures with age- and education-adjusted norms support reliable longitudinal tracking, enabling earlier insight into cognitive change rather than late-stage detection.
Taken together, this evidence sets the stage for a paradigm shift in how best to approach cognitive aging. Brain health is dynamic, modifiable, and measurable. By profiling lifestyle factors in addition to assessment with NeuroTrax digital neurometrics, clinicians and researchers can better identify individual cognitive trajectories, support earlier intervention, and move toward more personalized brain health strategies.
References:
[1] Rodrigues, E.A., Djiberou Mahamadou, A.J., and Moreno, S. (2025). The impact of lifestyle factors on trajectories of cognitive subtypes in the older adult population. Scientific Reports, 15:31744. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-91171-0.
[2] Tsuk, S., Netz, Y., Dunsky, A., Zeev, A., Carasso, R., Dwolatzky, T., Salem, R., Behar, S., and Rotstein, A. (2019). The acute effect of exercise on executive function and attention: Resistance versus aerobic exercise. Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 15(3):208–215. DOI: 10.5709/acp-0269-7.
[3] Lutski, M., Weinstein, G., Ben-Zvi, S., Goldbourt, U., and Tanne, D. (2020). Adherence to Mediterranean diet and subsequent cognitive decline in men with cardiovascular disease. Nutritional Neuroscience, 26(1):1–12. DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2020.1715049.
[4] Doniger, G.M., Simon, E.S., and Zivotofsky, A.Z. (2006). Comprehensive computerized assessment of cognitive sequelae of a complete 12–16 hour fast. Behavioral Neuroscience, 120(4):804–816. DOI: 10.1037/0735-7044.120.4.804.
[5] Vaisman, N., Katzman, H., Carmiel-Haggai, M., Lusthaus, M., and Niv, E. (2010). Breakfast improves cognitive function in cirrhotic patients with cognitive impairment. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 92(1):137–140. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29211.
