Supplementary materials for: Influence of cognitive reserve on cognitive trajectories: role of brain pathologies

Background and Objectives: Evidence on the association of the cognitive reserve (CR) with the cognitive trajectories is limited. We aimed to examine the influence of CR indicator on domain-specific cognitive trajectories taking brain pathologies into account.

Methods: Within the Rush Memory and Aging Project, 1,697 dementia-free participants (mean age: 79.6 years) were followed up to 21 years. CR indicator encompassing education, early-life, mid-life, and late-life cognitive activities, and late-life social activity was ascertained at baseline and categorized as tertiles (the lowest, middle, and highest). Global cognition, episodic memory, semantic memory, working memory, visuospatial ability, and perceptual speed were assessed annually with 19 tests, from which composite scores were derived. During the follow-up, 648 died and underwent autopsies to evaluate brain pathologies. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effect models.

Results: Among the participants, the score of the CR...