# Examining the influence of self-care practices on brain activity in healthy older adults

## TL;DR

This study explores how self-care practices affect brain activity in older adults, finding that different practices lead to distinct brain patterns.

## Contribution

The study reveals how self-care practices influence resting-state brain activity in aging, linking developmental practices to younger-like brain patterns.

## Key findings

- The T-SC group showed brain activity consistent with established aging models, including hyperactivation in memory and executive function.
- The D-SC group exhibited brain activity similar to younger adults, suggesting a protective effect of developmental self-care practices.
- Bilateral frontal beta band activation was observed in the T-SC group, indicating typical aging characteristics.

## Abstract

Studies on the aging brain often occur in active settings, but comparatively few investigate brain activity in resting states. However, exploring brain activity in a resting state offers valuable insights into spontaneous neural processes unaffected by task-specific influences. Objective: To investigate the relationship between self-care practices, cognitive function, and patterns of brain activity in healthy older adults, taking into account predictions from aging brain models.

77 older adults aged 61 to 87 completing a self-care practices questionnaire, neuropsychological tests, and resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. Participants were classified into two groups according to their self-care practices: traditional self-care (T-SC) and developmental self-care (D-SC).

Although neuropsychological tests did not yield significant differences between the D-SC and T-SC groups, patterns of brain activity revealed distinct behaviors. The T-SC group demonstrated patterns more consistent with established aging brain models, contrasting with the D-SC group, which exhibited brain activity akin to that observed in younger adults. Specifically, the T-SC group displayed hyperactivation related to memory and executive function performance, alongside heightened alpha power in posterior regions. Furthermore, bilateral frontal activation in the beta band was evident.

The findings suggest a nuanced relationship between self-care practices and brain activity in older adults. While the T-SC group demonstrated brain activity patterns consistent with conservative aging, indicating the preservation of typical aging characteristics, the D-SC group displayed activity suggestive of a potential protective effect. This effect may be linked to self-care strategies that foster development and resilience in cognitive aging.