Fortalecer las reservas cognitivas: Estrategias basadas en evidencia para un envejecimiento con bienestar

Alicia Lianne García González; Diego Díaz-Guerra; Zoylen Fernández-Fleites; Yunier Broche-Pérez

doi:10.58763/rc2025491

Authors

Alicia Lianne García González Universidad de Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz. Camagüey, Cuba https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0284-2431
Diego D. Díaz-Guerra Universidad Central Marta Abreu de Las Villas. Villa Clara, Cuba https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5169-838X
Zoylen Fernández-Fleites Iniciativa Cubana en Salud Cognitiva. Villa Clara, Cuba https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9739-2749
Yunier Broche-Pérez Prisma Behavioral Center. Florida, Estados Unidos de America https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3450-7374

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58763/rc2025491

Keywords:

ageing, neuropsychology

Abstract

Introduction: The concept of cognitive reserve (CR) emerges as a key explanatory framework by demonstrating that modifiable factors such as education, physical activity, and social participation can compensate for age-related cognitive decline. However, significant gaps persist in its practical implementation, especially in diverse community and political contexts. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the most effective strategies to strengthen CR, integrating recent evidence and proposing a multilevel model that articulates individual, community, and structural interventions. Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining systematic reviews with bibliometric analyses using VOSviewer, examining a total of 1,060 studies organized into three axes: protective factors (693 studies), structured interventions (71 studies), and social determinants (296 studies). Results: The results revealed that physical activity and education are the best-documented factors, showing robust associations with improved cognitive function. In contrast, bilingualism emerged as an under-researched area despite its neuroprotective potential. Conclusions: The most effective interventions were multimodal approaches, such as the combination of cognitive training with physical exercise, while at the social level, community participation emerged as a key predictor of cognitive resilience, although marked disparities were observed between urban and rural areas.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Abbas, S., Khattar, Z., Sabatier, J., Okdeh, N., Kovacic, H., Fajloun, Z., & Roufayel, R. (2024). Neuroarchitecture: How the Perception of Our Surroundings Impacts the Brain. Biology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13040220

Andrews, G., Murphy, K., & Nguyen, L. (2019). Immediate and long-term efficacy of executive functions cognitive training in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological bulletin, 145 7, 698-733. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000196

Arida, R., & Teixeira-Machado, L. (2021). The Contribution of Physical Exercise to Brain Resilience. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2020.626769

Assem, H., Fathy, F., & Khodeir, L. (2023). Designing for human wellbeing: The integration of neuroarchitecture in design – A systematic review. Ain Shams Engineering Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2022.102102

Awata, S. (2024). Living alone with dementia in Japan: challenges and policies. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 20. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.087607

Bäckman, L., Patalay, P., Marseglia, A., Wang, H., Westman, E., Dekhtyar, S., Kalpouzos, G., Laukka, E., Maddock, J., & Welmer, A. (2022). Social Health and Cognitive Change in Old Age: Role of Brain Reserve. Annals of Neurology, 93. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.26591

Bennett, D., Schneider, J., Boyle, P., Wilson, R., Lamar, M., & Yu, L. (2019). Education and cognitive reserve in old age. Neurology, 92, e1041 - e1050. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000007036

Berendsen, A., van den Brink, A., van de Rest, O., & Brouwer-Brolsma, E. (2019). The Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Diets Are Associated with Less Cognitive Decline and a Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease—A Review. Advances in Nutrition, 10, 1040 - 1065. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmz054

Bialystok, E. (2021). Bilingualism: Pathway to Cognitive Reserve. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 25, 355-364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2021.02.003

Boyle, P., Wilson, R., Yu, L., Arfanakis, K., Schneider, J., Bennett, D., Dawe, R., & Wang, T. (2021). To what degree is late life cognitive decline driven by age-related neuropathologies? Brain: a journal of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab092

Chauvel, L., Leist, A., & Bar-Haim, E. (2021). Inequality of educational opportunity at time of schooling predicts cognitive functioning in later adulthood. SSM - Population Health, 15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100837

Daw, P., Wood, G., King, A., Pykett, J., Stathi, A., Agyapong-Badu, S., & Banchoff, A. (2022). The Role of Urban Environments in Promoting Active and Healthy Aging: A Systematic Scoping Review of Citizen Science Approaches. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 99, 427 - 456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-022-00622-w

Deary, I., Radakovic, R., Cox, S., Harris, S., Allerhand, M., Starr, J., Davies, G., Ritchie, S., Riha, R., Breen, D., & Hagenaars, S. (2019). Sleep and cognitive aging in the eighth decade of life. Sleep, 42. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsz019

Dunstan, D., Stathi, A., Dogra, S., Owen, N., Sugiyama, T., & Gardiner, P. (2021). Active Aging and Public Health: Evidence, Implications, and Opportunities. Annual review of public health. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052620-091107

Dupre, M., Wang, N., & Li, M. (2022). Association Between the Self-Reported Duration and Quality of Sleep and Cognitive Function Among Middle-aged and Older Adults in China. Journal of affective disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.02.039

Fisher, M. (2023). Multi-sectoral action to promote psychological wellbeing: Theorising the role of place-based policy. Health promotion journal of Australia: official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.754

Fujiwara, Y., Ejiri, M., Ihara, K., Kim, H., Obuchi, S., Hirano, H., Ishii, K., Watanabe, Y., Kawai, H., & Oka, K. (2019). Social participation reduces isolation among Japanese older people in urban area: A 3-year longitudinal study. PLoS ONE, 14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222887

Garbarino, V., Pollet, E., Palavicini, J., Kellogg, D., Kraig, E., Orr, M., & Gonzales, M. (2022). Biological aging processes underlying cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 132. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI158453

Gelfo, F., Petrosini, L., Mandolesi, L., Caltagirone, C., Serra, L., Balsamo, F., Bozzali, M., & Bonarota, S. (2022). Walking, Running, Swimming: An Analysis of the Effects of Land and Water Aerobic Exercises on Cognitive Functions and Neural Substrates. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316310

Ghamsari, A., Rezapour, T., Kormi-Nouri, R., Karsazi, H., & Hatami, J. (2024). Which intellectual activities are related to cognitive reserve? Introduction and testing a three-dimensional model. Psychological research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-024-01926-z

González Argote, J., López Sánchez, A. A., Pérez Gamboa, A. J. (2024). Principales tendencias sobre salud mental en el campo de la Psicología: una revisión mixta en Scopus. PsiqueMag, 13(2), 35-55. https://doi.org/10.18050/psiquemag.v13i2.3135

Grady, C., Raz, N., Stern, Y., Jones, R., & Barnes, C. (2019). Brain reserve, cognitive reserve, compensation, and maintenance: operationalization, validity, and mechanisms of cognitive resilience. Neurobiology of Aging, 83, 124-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.03.022

Holmes, S., Fields, N., Gibson, A., & Richardson, V. (2019). Providing Care for Persons with Dementia in Rural Communities: Informal Caregivers’ Perceptions of Supports and Services. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 62, 630 - 648. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2019.1636332

Huang, N., Wu, Y., Teo, W., Siew-Pin, J., & Chen, W. (2024). Identifying exercise and cognitive intervention parameters to optimize executive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11556-024-00357-4

Jaeggi, S., & Weaver, A. (2021). Activity Engagement and Cognitive Performance Amongst Older Adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620867

Kua, E., Goh, L., Ng, T., Chua, R., Mahendran, R., & Feng, L. (2022). A 5‐year community program in Singapore to prevent cognitive decline. Asia‐Pacific Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.1111/appy.12518

Larson, E., Sommerlad, A., Livingston, G., Shirai, K., Röhr, S., Singh‐Manoux, A., & Kivimäki, M. (2023). Social participation and risk of developing dementia. Nature Aging, 3, 532 - 545. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-023-00387-0

Lee, C., Portegijs, E., & Zhu, X. (2023). Activity-friendly environments for active aging: The physical, social, and technology environments. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1080148

Lucantoni, D., Lamura, G., Barbabella, F., Socci, M., & Principi, A. (2023). Active Aging Policies Targeting Health and Care During the of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Thematic Analysis of Italian National and Regional Policies. Journal of Applied Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231182243

Luque-Casado, A., Gasque, P., Collado-Mateo, D., Fernández-Del-Olmo, M., Peñacoba, C., Del Coso, J., Amado-Alonso, D., Lavín-Pérez, A., & Leyton-Román, M. (2021). Key Factors Associated with Adherence to Physical Exercise in Patients with Chronic Diseases and Older Adults: An Umbrella Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042023

Miraglia, F., Rossini, P., Pappalettera, C., Carrarini, C., & Vecchio, F. (2024). Cognitive resilience/reserve: Myth or reality? A review of definitions and measurement methods. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 20, 3567 - 3586. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13744

Mojica, Z., Lennertz, L., & McAllister, J. (2021). Mapping A Discipline: A Guide to Using VOSviewer for Bibliometric and Visual Analysis. Science & Technology Libraries, 41, 319 - 348. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2021.1991547

Morone, P., Lopolito, A., Falcone, P., & Sica, E. (2020). A Combined method to model policy interventions for local communities based on people knowledge. MethodsX, 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2020.100877

Nishimune, H., & Inoue, R. (2023). Neuronal Plasticity and Age-Related Functional Decline in the Motor Cortex. Cells, 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12172142

Pérez Valdivia, Y., Rojas Sánchez, G., Sánchez Castillo, V., & Pérez Gamboa, A. (2024). La categoría bienestar psicológico y su importancia en la práctica asistencial: una revisión semisistemática. Revista Información Científica, 103, e4478. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10615337

Ponniah, R., & Savarimuthu, A. (2024). Cognition and Cognitive Reserve. Integrative psychological & behavioral science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-024-09821-3

Power, J., Shah, R., Joyce, J., Britt, C., Owen, A., Storey, E., Freak-Poli, R., Ryan, J., Hu, J., & Woods, R. (2021). Social isolation, social support, and loneliness and their relationship with cognitive health and dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 37, 1 - 12. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5644

Pugh, M., Drahota, A., Udell, J., & Mackenzie, H. (2024). Psychological and educational interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 10, CD013480. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013480.pub2

Radanovic, M. (2020). Cognitive reserve: an evolving concept. International Psychogeriatrics, 32, 7 - 9. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610219001947

Sánchez Castillo, V., Pérez Gamboa, A. J., & Gómez Cano, C. A. (2024). Trends and evolution of Scientometric and Bibliometric research in the SCOPUS database. Bibliotecas. Anales de investigación, 20(1). http://revistas.bnjm.sld.cu/index.php/BAI/article/view/834

Selkoe, D. (2024). The advent of Alzheimer treatments will change the trajectory of human aging. Nature aging, 4 4, 453-463. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-024-00611-5

Soldan, A., & Pettigrew, C. (2019). Defining Cognitive Reserve and Implications for Cognitive Aging. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 19, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-019-0917-z

Stern, Y. (2021). How Can Cognitive Reserve Promote Cognitive and Neurobehavioral Health? Archives of clinical neuropsychology: the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists, 36 7, 1291-1295. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acab049

Tan, J., & Tan, C. (2023). Low neighborhood deprivation buffers against hippocampal neurodegeneration, white matter hyperintensities, and poorer cognition. GeroScience, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-023-00780-y

Tan, L., Fu, J., Shin, S., & Lee, J. (2022). Association between the mediterranean diet and cognitive health among healthy adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.946361

Thompson, L. (2024). Digital Assessment Approaches to Overcome Barriers to Cognitive Screening and Monitoring for Older Adults in Primary Care Settings. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 20. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.095393

Veeroja, P., Sugiyama, T., Kato, Y., Jamei, E., Abe, T., Sugiyama, M., Chau, H., & Mori, K. (2022). Third Places for Older Adults' Social Engagement: A Scoping Review and Research Agenda. The Gerontologist. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnac180

Warhurst, R., & Black, K. (2024). Theorising Later-Career as a Basis for Enhancing Inclusion and Extending Working Lives Through Human Resource Development. Human Resource Development Review, 23, 522 - 544. https://doi.org/10.1177/15344843241269166

Webb, A., Fallon, J., Page, J., & Babcock, K. (2021). Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease. Stem Cell Reports, 16, 681 - 693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.01.019

Yu, D., Chan, D., Fong, D., Yu, A., Cheng, C., Bernal, J., & Siu, P. (2022). Effects of exercise intensity and frequency on improving cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A pilot randomized controlled trial on the minimum physical activity recommendation from WHO. Frontiers in Physiology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.1021428

Zhong, S., Foster, M., Lee, C., & Bian, J. (2020). Intergenerational communities: A systematic literature review of intergenerational interactions and older adults' health-related outcomes. Social science & medicine, 264, 113374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113374

Zorec, R., & Verkhratsky, A. (2024). Neuroglia in cognitive reserve. Molecular Psychiatry, 29, 3962 - 3967. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-024-02644-z