Is the field of cognitive aging irretrievably concerned with decline and deficits, or is it shifting to emphasize the hope of preservation and enhancement of cognitive function in late life? A fragment of an answer comes from research attempting to understand the reasons for individual variability in the extent and rate of cognitive decline. This body of work has created a sense of optimism based on evidence that there are some health behaviors that amplify cognitive performance or mitigate the rate of age-related cognitive decline. In this context, we discuss the role of physical activity on neurocognitive function in late adulthood and summarize how it can be conceptualized as a constructive approach both for the maintenance of cognitive function and as a therapeutic for enhancing or optimizing cognitive function in late life. In this way, physical activity research can be used to shape perceptions of cognitive aging.

中文翻译：

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认知衰老和体育活动的前景

认知衰老领域是不可挽回地关注衰退和缺陷，还是正在转向强调晚年认知功能保存和增强的希望？答案的一部分来自试图了解认知能力下降程度和速度个体差异的原因的研究。这项工作创造了一种乐观情绪，其基础是有证据表明一些健康行为可以增强认知能力或减轻与年龄相关的认知能力下降的速度。在这种背景下，我们讨论了体力活动对成年晚期神经认知功能的作用，并总结了如何将其概念化为维持认知功能的建设性方法以及作为增强或优化晚年认知功能的治疗方法。通过这种方式，身体活动研究可以用来塑造对认知衰老的看法。