АРХИТЕКТУРА ПРЕДОТВРАЩЕНИЯ СНИЖЕНИЯ КОГНИТИВНЫХ СПОСОБНОСТЕЙ: ВКЛАД НЕВРОЛОГИИ В ЗДОРОВОЕ СТАРЕНИЕ

Cognitive decline is a growing public health concern that affects millions of people around the world. Studies in the field of neuroscience applied to architecture (neuroarchitecture) have shown that the physical environment, both internal and external, public, and private, plays a fundamental role in this aspect.The idea to understand the complexity of the issue and what environments should offer their users, always considering the specific context of each typology of space.The spaces we occupy throughout development and throughout adult life influence the development of this cognitive reserve and can encourage its advancement or, on the contrary, discourage it.The human brain is a very plastic organ. In other words, it transforms functionally and structurally according to how it is stimulated. Although this plasticity is much more intense during the development period, it continues to exist throughout our lives.Strategies for architecture and urbanism are much more focused on the experiences that the environment enables.Studies indicate that walking and movement significantly stimulate better memory functioning.Therefore, an architecture that helps us combat this problem is essential in supporting healthy aging. Active design, which encourages people to practice more physical activity simply by architectural elements, such as a staircase or a ramp instead of an elevator, for example, is a very efficient strategy for combating chronic stress and its negative effects.