[Cognitive Reserve Scale: testing the theoretical model and norms].

Introduction: The cognitive reserve theory may contribute to explain cognitive performance differences among individuals with similar cognitive decline and among healthy ones. However, more psychometric analysis are needed to guarantee the usage of tests for assessing cognitive reserve.

Aims: To study validity evidences in relation to the structure of the Cognitive Reserve Scale (CRS) and to create reference norms to interpret the scores.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 172 participants completed the scale and they were classified into two age groups: aged 36-64 years (n = 110) and 65-88 years (n = 62).

Results: The exploratory factor analysis using ESEM revealed that the data fitted the proposed model. Overall, the discriminative indices were acceptable (between 0.21 and 0.50) and congruence was observed in the periods of young adulthood, adulthood and late adulthood, in both age group. Besides, the index of reliability (Cronbach's alpha: 0.80) and the typical mean error test (mean: 51.40 ± 11.11) showed adequate values for this type of instrument.

Conclusion: The CRS seemed to be set under the hypothetical theoretical model, and the scores might be interpreted by the norms showed. This study provided guarantees for the usage of the CRS in research.