Cognitive Reserve Measurement: A Mobile Application and a Framework for Detecting, Monitoring and Enhancing Cognitive Resilience

Cognitive Reserve (CR) refers to the brain’s capacity to maintain function despite age-related changes or neurological pathology. As global populations continue to age, tools that support cognitive health are increasingly vital. This paper presents Cognitive Reserve Measurement, a novel mobile application designed to monitor, assess, and enhance cognitive reserve through daily journaling, structured assessments, data visualization, and interactive cognitive training games. The application enables users to track key behaviors associated with cognitive resilience (physical activity, social interaction, sleep quality, cognitive stimulation). Its design is guided by a custom usability framework (framework for evaluating mHealth tools) and is extended to include cognitive resilience, monitoring, and engagement barriers. The Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire (CRIq) is embedded within the app to assess reserve across education, occupational complexity, and leisure engagement. Usability testing includes integration with Empatica EmbracePlus sensors for real-time stress monitoring and EEG devices for brain activity analysis, providing both subjective and physiological indicators of engagement. These features collectively aim to support healthy aging by encouraging behavior change, enhancing cognitive reserve, and enabling long-term resilience tracking.