“A person who left school at an early age is more likely to have a smaller cognitive reserve than a person who stayed in full-time education for longer or who continued learning throughout their life,” the organisation says.
It also lists a less “complex” job and “social isolation” as causes of lower cognitive reserve.
The Alzheimer’s Society says: “A person who has not used a range of mental skills during their lifetime of work – for example, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, communication and organisational skills – is more likely to have a smaller cognitive reserve.
“A person who has not interacted much with other people during their life may also have a smaller cognitive reserve.”
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