The article "The Adaptive Brain: Aging and Neurocognitive Scaffolding" by Denise C. Park and Patricia Reuter-Lorenz explores the cognitive and neural changes that occur with aging and proposes the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC). The authors highlight the paradoxical finding that despite declines in processing speed, working memory, inhibitory function, and long-term memory, as well as decreases in brain structure size and white matter integrity, functional imaging studies have shown reliable increases in prefrontal activation. STAC posits that these increases in prefrontal activation are a marker of an adaptive brain that engages in compensatory scaffolding to maintain cognitive function in the face of neural challenges. Scaffolding is defined as a normal process across the lifespan, involving the use and development of complementary, alternative neural circuits to achieve cognitive goals. This process is protective of cognitive function and is strengthened by cognitive engagement, exercise, and low levels of default network engagement. The authors review behavioral and neuroimaging data to support their theory, including evidence that older adults show bilateral activation in prefrontal areas, which is associated with better cognitive performance. They also discuss the role of dedifferentiation, where specialized neural circuits become less specific with age, and how this can lead to compensatory mechanisms in the prefrontal cortex. The STAC model suggests that the brain's ability to engage in compensatory scaffolding is influenced by individual factors such as genetic susceptibility, physical fitness, and cognitive stimulation. The authors propose that training and cognitive activity can promote scaffolding, potentially enhancing cognitive performance in older adults. They conclude by highlighting the importance of understanding the mechanisms of scaffolding to develop interventions that can support cognitive aging.The article "The Adaptive Brain: Aging and Neurocognitive Scaffolding" by Denise C. Park and Patricia Reuter-Lorenz explores the cognitive and neural changes that occur with aging and proposes the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC). The authors highlight the paradoxical finding that despite declines in processing speed, working memory, inhibitory function, and long-term memory, as well as decreases in brain structure size and white matter integrity, functional imaging studies have shown reliable increases in prefrontal activation. STAC posits that these increases in prefrontal activation are a marker of an adaptive brain that engages in compensatory scaffolding to maintain cognitive function in the face of neural challenges. Scaffolding is defined as a normal process across the lifespan, involving the use and development of complementary, alternative neural circuits to achieve cognitive goals. This process is protective of cognitive function and is strengthened by cognitive engagement, exercise, and low levels of default network engagement. The authors review behavioral and neuroimaging data to support their theory, including evidence that older adults show bilateral activation in prefrontal areas, which is associated with better cognitive performance. They also discuss the role of dedifferentiation, where specialized neural circuits become less specific with age, and how this can lead to compensatory mechanisms in the prefrontal cortex. The STAC model suggests that the brain's ability to engage in compensatory scaffolding is influenced by individual factors such as genetic susceptibility, physical fitness, and cognitive stimulation. The authors propose that training and cognitive activity can promote scaffolding, potentially enhancing cognitive performance in older adults. They conclude by highlighting the importance of understanding the mechanisms of scaffolding to develop interventions that can support cognitive aging.