Role of cognitive reserve in supporting executive efficiency and theory of mind in older adults

This study investigated whether cognitive reserve, assessed through the Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire (CRIq), predicts performance in cold executive functions and hot socio-cognitive abilities in older adults. Ninety-four healthy older adults completed a set of cognitive and socio-cognitive tasks. Multiple regression analyses tested the predictive role of CRIq on reaction times, accuracy, and performance variability, while controlling for age and education. Higher CRIq scores significantly predicted faster reaction times across all executive function tasks, indicating more efficient processing. No significant associations emerged with accuracy or variability. Importantly, CRIq strongly predicted performance in both affective and cognitive theory of mind, independently of age and global cognitive functioning. Cognitive reserve plays a protective role in aging, supporting both processing speed and social-cognitive skills. These findings highlight the multifaceted influence of cognitive reserve, suggesting its relevance for maintaining executive and socio-cognitive functioning in older adults.