We examined how brain reserve in midlife, measured by brain-predicted age difference scores (Brain-PADs), predicted executive function concurrently and longitudinally into early old age, and whether these associations were moderated by young adult cognitive reserve or genotype. 508 men in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA) completed neuroimaging assessments at mean age 56 and six executive function tasks at mean ages 56, 62, and 68 years. Results indicated that greater brain reserve at age 56 was associated with better concurrent executive function (=.10, =.040) and less decline in executive function over 12 years (=.34, =.001). These associations were not moderated by cognitive reserve or genotype. Twin analysis suggested associations with executive function slopes were driven by genetic influences. Our findings suggest that greater brain reserve allowed for better cognitive maintenance from middle- to old age, driven by a genetic association. The results are consistent with differential preservation of executive function based on brain reserve that is independent of young adult cognitive reserve or genotype.

中文翻译：

---

中年时期的大脑储备与 12 年内执行功能的变化相关


我们研究了通过大脑预测年龄差异评分（Brain-PAD）测量的中年大脑储备如何同时纵向地预测早年的执行功能，以及这些关联是否受到年轻人认知储备或基因型的调节。越南时代双胞胎衰老研究 (VETSA) 的 508 名男性在平均年龄 56 岁时完成了神经影像评估，并在平均年龄 56、62 和 68 岁时完成了六项执行功能任务。结果表明，56 岁时更大的大脑储备与更好的并发执行功能 (=.10, =.040) 以及 12 年内执行功能下降较少 (=.34, =.001) 相关。这些关联不受认知储备或基因型的调节。双胞胎分析表明，与执行功能斜率的关联是由遗传影响驱动的。我们的研究结果表明，在遗传关联的驱动下，更大的大脑储备可以使中年到老年的认知能力得到更好的维持。结果与基于大脑储备的执行功能的差异性保存一致，该大脑储备独立于年轻人的认知储备或基因型。