Cognitive reserve against vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia: A scoping review

Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) are common in older adults and are typically associated with cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). However, little remains known about non-pharmacological, modifiable lifestyle variables that may build cognitive reserve against cSVD/VCID. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review of the existing literature on this topic, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We identified and reviewed over 1000 articles that included keywords associated with cSVD/VCID and cognitive reserve. Only a small number of these articles met our inclusion criteria for testing moderation with CR. Our review comprehensively evaluates and synthesizes results from these studies, which produce a pattern of mixed findings. We discuss the factors that may have contributed to these findings and conclude with a discussion of current gaps in the literature and recommendations for future research to address these knowledge gaps.