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Cognitive Reserve

Meaning

Cognitive reserve is a theoretical construct that describes the brain’s capacity to cope with the effects of brain damage or age-related pathology without exhibiting overt clinical symptoms of cognitive decline. This resilience is thought to be built through a lifetime of intellectual stimulation, education, and engaging lifestyle factors, allowing the brain to utilize existing neural networks more efficiently or to recruit alternative networks. Clinically, individuals with higher cognitive reserve may maintain better executive function and memory despite underlying structural brain changes. Optimizing hormonal balance, particularly neuroprotective hormones, is a key strategy in supporting and preserving this vital reserve.