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Cognitive reserve and its impact on cognitive and functional abilities, physical activity and quality of life following a diagnosis of dementia: longitudinal findings from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) study
Laura D. Gamble, Linda Clare, Carol Opdebeeck, Anthony J. Martyr, Roy W. Jones, Jennifer M. Rusted, Claire Louise Pentecost, Jeanette M. Thom et al.. Age and Ageing, 2025-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Higher cognitive reserve was associated with better cognition, fewer functional difficulties, more physical activity and better quality of life at baseline but was associated with accelerated cognitive decline and greater dependence over time. After 2 years, those with higher initial reserve were estimated to still have better cognition than those with low reserve. Cognitive reserve may be important in initially delaying dementia progression but is linked with accelerated deterioration once dementia becomes clinically evident, likely because of the more advanced neuropathological stage of the condition. Engagement in leisure activities is a potentially modifiable domain of cognitive reserve warranting further investigation.
Key findings
- Higher cognitive reserve was associated with better cognition, fewer functional difficulties, more physical activity and better quality of life at baseline but was associated with accelerated cognitive decline and greater dependence over time.
- After 2 years, those with higher initial reserve were estimated to still have better cognition than those with low reserve.
- Cognitive reserve may be important in initially delaying dementia progression but is linked with accelerated deterioration once dementia becomes clinically evident, likely because of the more advanced neuropathological stage of the condition.
- Engagement in leisure activities is a potentially modifiable domain of cognitive reserve warranting further investigation.
Why it matters
People with higher cognitive reserve had better thinking, function, and quality of life when dementia was first diagnosed, but then declined faster and became more dependent over time. This suggests cognitive reserve may delay when dementia becomes noticeable rather than prevent or cure it.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants1,537
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Age and Ageing) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Age and Ageing: journal h-index 231 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,537 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 20 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 20 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Fiona E. Matthews: h-index 99 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Sydney: institution h-index 1,466 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 9 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39775724) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Gamble, L. D., Clare, L., Opdebeeck, C., Martyr, A. J., Jones, R. W., Rusted, J. M., et al. (2025). Cognitive reserve and its impact on cognitive and functional abilities, physical activity and quality of life following a diagnosis of dementia: longitudinal findings from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) study. Age and Ageing. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afae284
Vancouver
Gamble LD, Clare L, Opdebeeck C, Martyr AJ, Jones RW, Rusted JM, et al. Cognitive reserve and its impact on cognitive and functional abilities, physical activity and quality of life following a diagnosis of dementia: longitudinal findings from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) study. Age and Ageing. 2025. doi:10.1093/ageing/afae284. PMID: 39775724.
BibTeX
@article{gamble2025-39775724,
author = {Gamble, Laura D. and Clare, Linda and Opdebeeck, Carol and Martyr, Anthony J. and Jones, Roy W. and Rusted, Jennifer M. and Pentecost, Claire Louise and Thom, Jeanette M. and others},
title = {{Cognitive reserve and its impact on cognitive and functional abilities, physical activity and quality of life following a diagnosis of dementia: longitudinal findings from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) study}},
journal = {Age and Ageing},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1093/ageing/afae284},
pmid = {39775724},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afae284}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 15.