A cognitive ability profile can provide a valid phenotype for future cognitive resilience to brain aging

A cross-sectional estimate of prospective cognitive resilience against brain atrophy can be constructed from the ADNI neuropsychological test battery. This phenotype, which draws heavily upon measures of processing speed/executive functioning, category fluency, verbal naming, and immediate recall, can predict the extent to which future brain atrophy will impact rates of cognitive decline. Examining cognitive phenotypes associated with more resilient cognitive aging may help to understand neural systems that underpin resilience, potentially leading to resilience-promoting interventions and new opportunities to efficiently monitor changes in resilience over time.