The Bright and Dark Sides of Cognitive Reserve: Insights from Middle‐Aged Adults at High Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

These findings suggest that CR compensates for the functional decline caused by brain atrophy but does not delay its progression. This compensatory effect is evident in its ability to maintain cognitive performance and postpone decline temporarily. However, once cognitive decline begins, it tends to occur more rapidly. These results underscore the need for early interventions targeting the root causes of cognitive deterioration to reduce the long-term impact of disease progression.