Executive functions and memory strategies in healthy individuals with high and low cognitive reserve: A comparative study

Executive functions and memory strategies in healthy individuals with high and low cognitive reserve: A comparative study

/ Vol 6-Nº 2 jul-dic 2023 /

Maria João Cunha, MSc. *1; Vanessa Rocha, MSc. 1; Sara Margarida Fernandes, PhD. 1; Lara Sofia Nascimento Palmeira, PhD. 1,2; Enrique Vázquez-Justo PhD. 3,4,5; Nuria Paul, PhD 6. y Fernando Maestú, PhD. 7,8

ABSTRACT

Objective: In this study, we aim to explore differences in executive functions, memory, and memory strategies, between healthy individuals with high and low levels of Cognitive Reserve (CR).
Method: A total of 70 participants underwent neuropsychological assessment, 36 females and 34 males, aged between 50 and 85 years. The instruments administered were BSI, MoCA, QRC, LMS I and II (EMW-III), DMS (WAIS – III), TMS, VFT, SCWT, and WCST.
Results: We confirm the influence of the CR, including education level, on the performance of the neuropsychological tests, with higher CR and education level leading to better neuropsychological performance. At the TMS test, there were no group differences in those conditions with higher demand on executive functions, while in those with the material externally organized the differences were significant. While age had a lesser influence on performance, middle-aged participants with a higher CR presented better performances, when compared to older participants.

1 I2P-Portucalense Institute for Psychology, Portucalense University, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 541, Porto, Portugal.
2 Clinical Psychology Service, Hospital and University Center of Coimbra, Praceta Professor Mota Pinto, 3004-561, Coimbra, Portugal.
3 IESF Research, Development and Innovation Center, Rua Universitária – Medelo, Apartado 178, 4824-909, Fafe, Portugal.
4 Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Biomedical Technology Center, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.
5 Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior and Laboratory of Educational Psychology, UNICENTRO University, Rua Padre, R. Salvatore Renna, 875 – Santa Cruz, Guarapuava – PR, 85015-430, Brazil.
6 Department of Basic Psychology I, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.
7 Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Technology (Complutense University of Madrid and Technical University of Madrid), Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.
8 Department of Basic Psychology II, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain

Corresponding address::

Maria João Cunha, INPP – Portucalense Institute for Human Development, Portucalense University, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 541, 4200-072 Porto (Portugal).
Phone: +351 225 572 000
E-mail: mariajoaoc_13@hotmail.com