Abstract

In the late Eighties it was recognized that individuals differ in their ability to cope with physiological or pathological cognitive decline. Since then, the distinction between Brain Reserve and Cognitive Reserve was specified, the former involving the available neurological resources, whilst the latter concerned with the cognitive, functional ones. However, the measurement of cognitive reserve has not yet been standardized by recourse to a unique, well-defined procedure. The aim of the present paper is the description of such a standardized procedure, by means of a questionnaire (Cognitive Reserve Index, CRI) specifically aimed at measuring the Cognitive Reserve construct. Standardization data collected so far and the possible relevance of CRI in clinical practice is discussed.