title: Supporting performance in the face of age-related neural changes: testing mechanistic roles of cognitive reserve.
abstract: Age impacts multiple neural measures and these changes do not always directly translate into alterations in clinical and cognitive measures. This partial protection from the deleterious effects of age in some individuals is referred to as cognitive reserve (CR) and although linked to variations in intelligence and life experiences, its mechanism is still unclear. Within the framework of a theoretical model we tested two potential mechanistic roles of CR to maintain task performance, neural reserve and neural compensation, in young and older adults using functional and structural MRI. Neural reserve refers to increased efficiency and/or capacity of existing functional neural resources. Neural compensation refers to the increased ability to recruit new, additional functional resources. Using structural and functional measures and task performance, the roles of CR were tested using path analysis. Results supported both mechanistic theories of CR and the use of our general theoretical model.
authors: Cognitive Neuroscience Division of the Taub Institute, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, NY 10032, USA. js2746@columbia.edu
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Steffener
authors: Aaron
authors: A
authors: Reuben
authors: Brian C
authors: BC
authors: Rakitin
authors: Yaakov
authors: Y
authors: Stern
references: Brain Imaging Behav. 2009;3(2):142-153
references: 19536354
references: Arch Neurol. 2001 Mar;58(3):498-504
references: 11255456
references: Neurology. 1995 Jan;45(1):55-60
references: 7824135
references: Neurobiol Aging. 2003 Mar-Apr;24(2):221-31
references: 12498956
references: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Mar 2;101(9):3316-21
references: 14978288
references: Neuroimage. 2001 Jul;14(1 Pt 1):21-36
references: 11525331
references: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 May 25;96(11):6558-63
references: 10339627
references: Int J Sports Med. 2002 Aug;23(6):415-21
references: 12215960
references: J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2002 Mar;8(3):448-60
references: 11939702
references: Neuroimage. 1997 Nov;6(4):305-19
references: 9417973
references: JAMA. 2002 Feb 13;287(6):742-8
references: 11851541
references: Science. 1966 Aug 5;153(3736):652-4
references: 5939936
references: Neurobiol Aging. 2007 May;28(5):784-98
references: 16621168
references: Cortex. 1978 Jun;14(2):234-44
references: 679704
references: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2003 Feb;58(2):176-80
references: 12586857
references: Arch Neurol. 2008 Nov;65(11):1467-71
references: 19001165
references: Cereb Cortex. 2008 Apr;18(4):959-67
references: 17675368
references: Multivariate Behav Res. 2004 Jan 1;39(1):99
references: 20157642
references: Neurology. 2005 Mar 22;64(6):1032-9
references: 15781822
references: Neuropsychologia. 2009 Aug;47(10):2015-28
references: 19467352