Publication Date

2026

Abstract

Cognitive decline is a widespread phenomenon affecting a significant proportion of older adults. The mechanisms that cause cognitive decline are still being investigated, with recent evidence indicating that senescent cells are a primary cause of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Environmental enrichment has been linked with the potential curbing and reversal of cognitive decline, specifically the restoration of immune cell function and improved neuroplasticity. Despite the amount of research showing the beneficial effects of environmental enrichment for cognitive decline, paradigms for environmental enrichment are heterogeneous across the literature. A primary factor that differs across studies is the duration of administration of environmental enrichment; few studies have compared differential schedules of environmental enrichment and their relationship with performance on behavioral testing. Because of the heterogeneity of environmental enrichment paradigms in the literature, the present study used one cohort of rats (n = 3) that received no enrichment, and three cohorts of rats (n = 3 each) with differing schedules of environmental enrichment: 24 hours, three weeks, and six weeks. The open field test and the elevated plus maze were used as behavioral tests and measurements of depressive and anxiety-like behaviors. Results showed a significant increase in locomotive behaviors between the control group and the six-week group. No other significant differences were found between the number of entries and the amount of time spent between control and enrichment groups. These findings suggest increased comfort in the elevated plus maze, but must be interpreted among other trends of environmental enrichment impacting symptoms of cognitive decline.

Disciplines

Neuroscience and Neurobiology

Download

Please click here to request an accessible copy (link opens a new window)

Share

COinS