雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of 'cognitive reserve' has gained significant traction in neuroscience, referring to the brain's resilience to neuropathological damage. This reserve is thought to be built through lifelong intellectual stimulation, physical activity, and social engagement. A seminal study by Stern et al. (2019) demonstrated that individuals with higher cognitive reserve, as measured by educational attainment and occupational complexity, exhibited delayed onset of dementia symptoms despite equivalent levels of amyloid plaque deposition. However, the mechanism remains debated; some argue that reserve reflects enhanced neural efficiency, while others propose compensatory recruitment of alternative networks. Critically, this theory has practical implications: it suggests that lifestyle interventions might postpone clinical manifestation, though not prevent underlying pathology. Thus, while promising, cognitive reserve should not be viewed as a cure but as a buffer, shifting the focus from prevention to delay.