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Brain Sciences
Special Issues
The Effect of Lifestyle on Brain Aging and Cognitive Function
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The Effect of Lifestyle on Brain Aging and Cognitive Function

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Cognitive, Social and Affective Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2026 | Viewed by 1266

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Shuzo Kumagai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Kumagai Institute of Health Policy, Fukuoka 813-0044, Japan
2. Institute of Digital Health Care, Dong-A University, Busan 49236, Republic of Korea
Interests: physical activity epidemiology; public health; health promotion; geriatrics; physical frailty; cognitive function; exercise intervention
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Takao Yamasaki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neurology, Minkodo Minohara Hospital, Fukuoka 811-2402, Japan
Interests: dementia; Alzheimer’s disease; mild cognitive impairment; non-invasive brain func-tion measurement; nonpharmacological interventions; physical activity; open-skill exercise
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yung Liao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Gradual Institute of Sports, Leisure and Hospitality Management, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 10610, Taiwan
Interests: physical activity; sedentary behavior; cognitive function; technology-based intervention; wearable devices
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Brain aging and cognitive function are thought to be greatly influenced by genetic factors, social factors, and postnatal environmental factors (= lifestyle habits). In addition, the influence of lifestyle factors as background factors for cognitive decline and the onset of dementia has been widely reported. In this Special Issue, in addition to clarifying the actual place lifestyle factors hold in related to brain aging and cognitive function, we will focus on maintaining and improving cognitive function by improving lifestyle habits. The research topics are as follows:

  • Elucidation of the actual state of brain aging and its background factors;
  • Interaction of genetic and environmental factors on cognitive function;
  • Research into the relationship between cognitive function and the following lifestyle habits: diet, physical activity, exercise, sleep, social activity, intellectual activity, and mental health;
  • Prevention and improvement of cognitive decline and onset of dementia by intervention of lifestyle factors and its mechanism.

Prof. Dr. Shuzo Kumagai
Dr. Takao Yamasaki
Prof. Dr. Yung Liao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cognitive function
  • brain aging
  • lifestyle
  • mild cognitive impairment
  • dementia
  • prevention and intervention
  • genetic-environment interaction

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

24 pages, 577 KB  
Review
Empathy-Mediated Narrative Reconstruction of Autobiographical Memory: An Integrative Review of Theory, Evidence, and Applications
by Shigetada Hiraoka, Shuzo Kumagai and Takao Yamasaki
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(4), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16040429 - 20 Apr 2026
Viewed by 591
Abstract
Background: Autobiographical memory undergoes qualitative changes across the lifespan, influencing self-understanding, emotional regulation, and psychological adaptation. Research shows memory is a dynamic process, reconstructed through retrieval, narration, and social interaction. How narrative construction and empathic engagement shape memory reconsolidation and self-continuity remains [...] Read more.
Background: Autobiographical memory undergoes qualitative changes across the lifespan, influencing self-understanding, emotional regulation, and psychological adaptation. Research shows memory is a dynamic process, reconstructed through retrieval, narration, and social interaction. How narrative construction and empathic engagement shape memory reconsolidation and self-continuity remains insufficiently integrated. Objectives: This narrative review synthesizes theoretical, empirical, and applied findings on autobiographical memory, narrative processes, and empathy, proposing an integrative model linking memory reconsolidation, identity reconstruction, and adaptive functioning. Methods: A theory-oriented narrative review was conducted across psychology, neuroscience, gerontology, and narrative research, drawing on literature from PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, J-STAGE, and CiNii. Peer-reviewed empirical studies, systematic reviews, and theoretical papers were organized around three interrelated conceptual domains: (1) autobiographical memory and self-related processes, (2) neurobiological and emotional mechanisms relevant to memory updating and reconsolidation, and (3) narrative construction within empathically mediated social interaction contexts, with additional consideration of evidence from narrative-based and creative interventions. Results: The reviewed literature suggests that autobiographical memory functions as a plastic, socially embedded system supporting self-continuity, although the strength and consistency of evidence vary across studies and contexts. Narrativization within empathically responsive and psychologically safe contexts enhances narrative coherence, emotional integration, and perspective-taking, promoting psychological stability, although these effects are not uniformly observed across all populations and study designs. Creative narrative activities further facilitate retrieval and meaning reconstruction, extending memory updating beyond recall, while the underlying mechanisms and causal pathways remain to be fully established. Conclusions: We propose an empathy-mediated narrative reconstruction model in which creative activity, narration, empathic response, and retelling interact cyclically to support memory reconsolidation and self-narrative updating. By integrating cognitive, social, and creative dimensions, this model provides a theoretically grounded framework with implications for clinical, educational, gerontological, and creative applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Lifestyle on Brain Aging and Cognitive Function)
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