The relationship between cognitive reserve and cognitive function in the pre-dementia stage of Alzheimer's disease

Zhi LI; Fengxiang LIU; Lin SHI; Caifeng BAO; Ruixian SHI; Qi JIA; Furu LIANG

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2096-5516.2025.02.003

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Chinese Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders ›› 2025, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (2) : 92-97. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.2096-5516.2025.02.003

Research Articles

The relationship between cognitive reserve and cognitive function in the pre-dementia stage of Alzheimer's disease

Zhi LI ¹ ,
Fengxiang LIU ¹ ,
Lin SHI ² ,
Caifeng BAO ³ ,
Ruixian SHI ³ ,
Qi JIA ³ ,
Furu LIANG ³

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Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of cognitive reserve (CR) proxy variables on cognitive function in pre dementia patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: 25 normal controls (NC) and 45 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were selected.All enrolled patients received Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq) to obtain the total score, education, work activities and leisure time scores, and completed the cognitive function scale assessment.Finally, correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were carried out on the proxy variables of cognitive reserve and the scores of each cognitive domain of the cognitive function scale. Results: ①Total score, education and leisure time were positively correlated with Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) score(r=0.506, P<0.001, r=0.398, P<0.001, r=0.448, P<0.001)and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score(r=0.492, P<0.001, r=0.353, P=0.002, r=0.403, P<0.001) reflecting overall cognition. ② Education and number symbol conversion test, auditory word learning test, delayed recall and Boston Naming test were positively correlated (both P<0.05);The work activity was positively correlated with the number symbol test, the auditory word learning test, the delayed memory, and the number span positive memory test (both P<0.05).Leisure time was positively correlated with the total score of auditory word learning test and delayed recall, number span test, number symbol conversion test, animal word fluency and Boston naming test (both P<0.05).The total score was positively correlated with the total score of auditory word learning test and delayed recall, number span forward memorization test, animal word fluency test, number symbol conversion test and number span backward memorization test (both P<0.05). Conclusion: ① There is a correlation between comprehensive cognitive reserve and overall cognitive function in AD patients in the pre-dementia stage. ② Education level and lifelong leisure activities are correlated with the comprehensive cognitive scale, memory and language ability, while occupational complexity was correlated only with comprehensive cognitive scale and memory.

Key words

Mild cognitive impairment / Alzheimer's disease / Cognitive reserve / Cognitive function

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Zhi LI , Fengxiang LIU , Lin SHI , et al . The relationship between cognitive reserve and cognitive function in the pre-dementia stage of Alzheimer's disease[J]. Chinese Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders. 2025, 8(2): 92-97 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.2096-5516.2025.02.003

References

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