Editing Cognition (section)

== Improving cognition ==
{{main|Nootropic}}

===Physical exercise===
Aerobic and [[anaerobic exercise]] have been studied concerning cognitive improvement.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sanders LM, Hortobágyi T, la Bastide-van Gemert S, van der Zee EA, van Heuvelen MJ | title = Dose-response relationship between exercise and cognitive function in older adults with and without cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 14 | issue = 1 | pages = e0210036 | date = 2019-01-10 | pmid = 30629631 | pmc = 6328108 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0210036 | bibcode = 2019PLoSO..1410036S | veditors = Regnaux JP | doi-access = free }}</ref> There appear to be short-term increases in attention span, verbal and visual memory in some studies. However, the effects are transient and diminish over time, after cessation of the physical activity.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Young J, Angevaren M, Rusted J, Tabet N | title = Aerobic exercise to improve cognitive function in older people without known cognitive impairment | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 4 | pages = CD005381 | date = April 2015 | volume = 2015 | pmid = 25900537 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD005381.pub4 | collaboration = Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group | pmc = 10554155 }}</ref> People with Parkinson's disease have also seen improved cognition while cycling, while pairing it with other cognitive tasks.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hazamy |first1=Audrey A. |last2=Altmann |first2=Lori J.P. |last3=Stegemöller |first3=Elizabeth |last4=Bowers |first4=Dawn |last5=Lee |first5=Hyo Keun |last6=Wilson |first6=Jonathan |last7=Okun |first7=Michael S. |last8=Hass |first8=Chris J. |date=April 2017 |title=Improved cognition while cycling in Parkinson's disease patients and healthy adults |journal=Brain and Cognition |language=en |volume=113 |pages=23–31 |doi=10.1016/j.bandc.2017.01.002 |pmc=5346468 |pmid=28088064}}</ref> Exercise, even at light intensity, significantly improves general cognition across all populations, with the largest cognitive gains seen from shorter interventions (1–3 months), light to moderate intensity activity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Singh |first=Ben |last2=Bennett |first2=Hunter |last3=Miatke |first3=Aaron |last4=Dumuid |first4=Dorothea |last5=Curtis |first5=Rachel |last6=Ferguson |first6=Ty |last7=Brinsley |first7=Jacinta |last8=Szeto |first8=Kimberley |last9=Petersen |first9=Jasmine M. |last10=Gough |first10=Claire |last11=Eglitis |first11=Emily |last12=Simpson |first12=Catherine EM |last13=Ekegren |first13=Christina L. |last14=Smith |first14=Ashleigh E. |last15=Erickson |first15=Kirk I. |date=2025-03-06 |title=Effectiveness of exercise for improving cognition, memory and executive function: a systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis |url=https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2025/03/06/bjsports-2024-108589 |journal=British Journal of Sports Medicine |language=en |doi=10.1136/bjsports-2024-108589 |issn=0306-3674 |pmid=40049759|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Dietary supplements===
Studies evaluating [[phytoestrogen]], blueberry supplementation and antioxidants showed minor increases in cognitive function after supplementation but no significant effects compared to [[placebo]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Barfoot KL, May G, Lamport DJ, Ricketts J, Riddell PM, Williams CM | title = The effects of acute wild blueberry supplementation on the cognition of 7–10-year-old schoolchildren | journal = European Journal of Nutrition | volume = 58 | issue = 7 | pages = 2911–2920 | date = October 2019 | pmid = 30327868 | pmc = 6768899 | doi = 10.1007/s00394-018-1843-6 | url = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Thaung Zaw JJ, Howe PR, Wong RH | title = Does phytoestrogen supplementation improve cognition in humans? A systematic review | journal = Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences | volume = 1403 | issue = 1 | pages = 150–163 | date = September 2017 | pmid = 28945939 | doi = 10.1111/nyas.13459 | bibcode = 2017NYASA1403..150T | s2cid = 25280760 | url = http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/nyas.13459 | url-access = subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sokolov AN, Pavlova MA, Klosterhalfen S, Enck P | title = Chocolate and the brain: neurobiological impact of cocoa flavanols on cognition and behavior | journal = Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews | volume = 37 | issue = 10 Pt 2 | pages = 2445–2453 | date = December 2013 | pmid = 23810791 | doi = 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.06.013 | s2cid = 17371625 }}</ref> Another study on the effects of herbal and dietary supplements on cognition in menopause show that soy and Ginkgo biloba supplementation could improve women's cognition.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Clement |first1=Yuri N. |last2=Onakpoya |first2=Igho |last3=Hung |first3=Shao K. |last4=Ernst |first4=Edzard |date=March 2011 |title=Effects of herbal and dietary supplements on cognition in menopause: A systematic review |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0378512210004536 |journal=Maturitas |language=en |volume=68 |issue=3 |pages=256–263 |doi=10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.12.005|pmid=21237589 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Pleasurable social stimulation===
Exposing individuals with cognitive impairment (i.e. [[dementia]]) to daily activities designed to stimulate thinking and memory in a social setting, seems to improve cognition. Although study materials are small, and larger studies need to confirm the results, the effect of social cognitive stimulation seems to be larger than the effects of some drug treatments.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Woods B, Aguirre E, Spector AE, Orrell M | title = Cognitive stimulation to improve cognitive functioning in people with dementia | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 2 | pages = CD005562 | date = February 2012 | pmid = 22336813 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD005562.pub2  | s2cid = 7086782 | collaboration = Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group }}</ref>

===Other methods===
[[Transcranial magnetic stimulation]] (TMS) has been shown to improve cognition in individuals without dementia 1 month after treatment session compared to before treatment. The effect was not significantly larger compared to placebo.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Trung J, Hanganu A, Jobert S, Degroot C, Mejia-Constain B, Kibreab M, Bruneau MA, Lafontaine AL, Strafella A, Monchi O | display-authors = 6 | title = Transcranial magnetic stimulation improves cognition over time in Parkinson's disease | journal = Parkinsonism & Related Disorders | volume = 66 | pages = 3–8 | date = September 2019 | pmid = 31300260 | doi = 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.07.006 | s2cid = 196350357 | url = https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1353802019302962 | url-access = subscription }}</ref> Computerized cognitive training, utilizing a computer based training regime for different cognitive functions has been examined in a clinical setting but no lasting effects has been shown.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gates NJ, Rutjes AW, Di Nisio M, Karim S, Chong LY, March E, Martínez G, Vernooij RW | display-authors = 6 | title = Computerised cognitive training for 12 or more weeks for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in late life | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 2020 | pages = CD012277 | date = February 2020 | issue = 2 | pmid = 32104914 | pmc = 7045394 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD012277.pub3 | url = | collaboration = Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group }}</ref>