Cognitive resilience depends on how the brain responds to environment, aging, and inflammation. J. Tiago Gonçalves, Ph.D., studies the hippocampus to examine how spatial memory is shaped by factors such as cognitive enrichment, exercise, social interaction, disease, and age. Gonçalves explains how adult neurogenesis and microglia help support the brain’s ability to encode information, and how disruptions in these systems can affect memory. He also shows that aging and systemic inflammation can weaken spatial encoding while still revealing signs of adaptation and recovery over time. By connecting brain plasticity, immune activity, and memory formation, Gonçalves presents a broader view of how cognition changes across the lifespan and how these mechanisms may inform future strategies for addressing cognitive decline Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40848]