The role of the cognitive reserve in the cognitive recovery of patients who have suffered a severe addiction to substances

Cognitive reserve has been shown to be a prognostic variable in cognitive recovery after brain damage. Few studies have addressed its role in the cognitive status after a sustained period of substance addiction. To analyse the modulating role of cognitive reserve in the relation between withdrawal time and the cognitive status of patients with severe substance addiction. A total of 26 patients recovering from severe substance addiction were assessed using a neuropsychological assessment protocol and cognitive reserve questionnaires. Exploratory factor analysis is used to define the variables and linear regression analysis is employed to view the predictive relations. Three cognitive functioning factors are obtained: processing integrity, inhibitory control and verbal memory, as well as an overall reserve factor. In the regression models, predictive relations are found only in a model of a direct relation between withdrawal and verbal memory, and in a model of an independent relation between cognitive reserve and withdrawal time and verbal memory, but not in the modulation relationship or in other relations in the rest of the factors. The article discusses the role of the cognitive reserve as a mediator in the cognitive status of patients in a period of withdrawal after a serious addiction to substances. A relationship with memory is shown, but no modulation of the role of withdrawal time on that cognitive status is detected.