Cognitive reserve and its implications for Alzheimer’s disease
24th October 2013
The gap between symptoms and pathology in many brain disorders has been explained by ‘cognitive reserve’. This is the finding that a group of variables that include education levels, intellectual ability, social activity and stimulating environments, enables the brain to adapt to injury or disease. Until recently there has been limited understanding as to how this happens, however, Professor Ian Robertson proposes a biological mechanism that may be responsible. He suggests that higher levels of these social and psychological variables cause an increased activation of the noradrenergic system. It is the noradrenaline which then plays a key role in mediating the neuroprotective and neuroplasticity effects that can improve peoples’ recovery after brain injury and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
For the full article please see:
Robertson, I,H. (2013). A noradrenergic theory of cognitive reserve: implications for Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiology of Aging, 34, 298-308.