Mechanisms mediating brain and cognitive reserve: Experience-dependent neuroprotection and functional compensation in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases

► Brain and cognitive reserve (BCR) can provide neuroprotective and compensatory capacities. ► The neurobiology of BCR has been informed by environmental manipulations of animal models. ► Beneficial effects of environmental enrichment have been studied in brain disease models. ► Enhanced sensory, cognitive and motor activity has molecular, cellular and behavioural effects. ► Animal models of BCR may aid development of novel therapeutics (e.g. enviromimetics).