Motivational reserve: Does it help our understanding of cognitive impairment? Commentary on... Healthy brain ageing

Abstract

Motivational reserve is being proposed as an additional component of reserve capacities which may prevent, or ameliorate the effects of, cognitive impairment in later life. This is consistent with an understanding of the presentation of dementia which goes beyond neuropathological and neuropsychological changes. The construct may help make sense of findings relating to the potentially preventative qualities of a diverse range of 'cognitive' activities and of social networks, as well as of education. However, caution is required in relation to how cognitive impairment is evaluated and defined, to avoid confounds such as has been the case with level of education.