Figure 2.

Impact of Change in Brain Resources and Frailty Levels on Cognitive Performance by Age

The same change in brain resources can have a minimal effect on cognitive performance in a young adult (a), a moderate effect in an older adult with high cognitive reserve (b) and a greater effect on an older adult with low cognitive reserve (c). Likewise, the same change in frailty level will have differential effects on the individual as a function of overall system reserve.

Adapted and reprinted with permission from Ahles et al, Psychooncology 2012 ²⁴