Sex differences in the protective effects of cognitive reserve

Cognitive reserve is the term used to describe the apparent ability of one’s cognitive processes or neural networks to adapt in response to neuropathology and brain injury. This protective ability is proposed to account for individual differences in age‐associated cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk, where higher levels of cognitive reserve are associated with more preserved cognitive functioning and delayed onset of AD dementia. Women have a higher prevalence of AD than men, and account for two‐thirds of AD diagnoses. Sex differences in the protective ability of cognitive reserve may account for differences in Alzheimer’s disease prevalence between men and women, but few studies have explored this possibility. This study evaluates sex as a moderator of the relationship between cognitive reserve and brain volume effects on executive function.