Cognitive reserve was linked to different patterns of cognitive change in ALS
Original source
Evidence of stage-specific cognitive reserve effects on longitudinal cognition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (opens in a new tab)Compass summarised this from the study's abstract.
Study details
- Studied in
- Human
Population inferred from the title and abstract by Compass.
A study of 169 people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 99 healthy controls found that education and leisure activity were associated with better initial cognitive scores in people with ALS. Over 6 to 18 months, these factors showed stage-specific relationships with cognitive change, including interactions that appeared to lessen decline in some clinical contexts. The researchers said the effects were non-linear and varied between subgroups.
Why this matters
The findings may help researchers interpret cognitive testing in ALS by considering education, leisure activities, disease stage and other clinical factors. This observational study does not show that education or leisure activity prevents cognitive decline, and it does not change treatment.
Limitations and context
The study included 268 participants who were assessed twice, with follow-up intervals ranging from 6 to 18 months. Education, work and leisure were used as proxies for cognitive reserve, so the study cannot establish causation. The results do not demonstrate a treatment benefit or prove that these factors prevent decline.