Concept of Cognitive Reserve in Context of Studying Coronary Heart Disease: Modern Views and Prospects of Scientific Research

Abstract

The article presents the results of a theoretical analysis of the contemporary foreign and domestic literature on the concept of the cognitive reserve, which is currently extremely urgent. The problems and the specificity of the cognitive impairments in patients with cardiovascular pathology, in particular, with coronary heart disease, as well as the main concepts and methodological problems of the concept of cognitive reserve are discussed in detail. The problem of the operationalization of this concept and the difficulties associated with it in determining the potential mechanisms of the cognitive reserve implementation are considered. The reciprocal influence of cognitive impairments on the course and prognosis of the coronary heart disease, in particular, on the level of compliance of the cardiac patients and subsequent psychological rehabilitation has been considered. In this regard, the paper discusses the potential directions for further research on the concept of cognitive reserve in relation to coronary heart disease, namely, the prospects of the study of the relationship between cognitive impairment and affective pathology and, in particular, alexithymia, which can significantly optimize the existing rehabilitation schemes for patients with ischemic heart disease.