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Executive Cognitive Reserve

Meaning

Executive Cognitive Reserve is a critical neuropsychological construct describing the brain’s inherent capacity to sustain function, particularly higher-order executive functions like planning and working memory, despite the presence of age-related structural damage or pathology. This reserve acts as a physiological buffer, allowing individuals to tolerate significant neuronal changes without exhibiting corresponding clinical symptoms of cognitive decline. It represents the cumulative benefit of lifelong neuroplasticity and systemic health.