Cognitive reserve relates to successful aging: A cross-sectional study focusing on psychological well-being and daily living activities in the elderly

Abstract

The increasingly aging population worldwide brings public health more into prominence. As reflecting the individual differences to effectively use brain regions and be resilient against age-related neural losses, cognitive reserve (CR) can play a crucial role in promoting both psychological and physical aspects of successful aging. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between CR, successful aging, psychological well-being, and physical independence in a sample of healthy elderly. Ninety-two elderly (aged 65–88) with normal cognition participated in the study. Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire (CRIq), Successful Aging Scale (SAS), Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBSE), and Lawton Instrumental Daily Living Activities Scale (IADL) were used. Sociodemographic information was also collected. The analyses revealed that CR was significantly associated with the total SAS, PWSBE, and IADL scores. In addition, income level appeared to be a significant mediator between CR and PWBSE and SAS. Overall, our findings indicate that a stronger CR may support successful aging and serve as a protective factor for psychological well-being and physical independence during old age. © 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.