A research team led by Professor Yi-Xuan Ku from the Department of Psychology at Sun Yat-sen University has recently published groundbreaking findings in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Their study, utilizing advanced multimodal neuroimaging techniques such as gray matter structural imaging, white matter tract imaging, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), along with cognitive behavioral experiments, provides new insights into the neural degeneration and compensatory mechanisms associated with visual short-term memory in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Alzheimer's disease often begins with degenerative changes in the medial temporal lobe, particularly affecting the hippocampus. Professor Ku's team explored this process from multiple perspectives, including changes in brain gray matter structure, white matter connectivity, and functional connections. They found that in the early stages of AD, the prefrontal cortex—a region crucial for higher-order cognitive functions—plays a significant compensatory role. The study offers a comprehensive understanding of how the short-term memory network in the brain adapts during the initial phases of AD. This adaptation involves the prefrontal cortex stepping in to mitigate the effects of hippocampal damage, thereby helping to maintain cognitive function despite ongoing degeneration. These findings not only enhance our knowledge of cognitive reserve in early AD but also open up potential avenues for early intervention. For instance, non-invasive stimulation techniques like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could be used to bolster prefrontal cortex activity, slowing down cognitive decline. By elucidating these mechanisms, the research provides a solid scientific foundation for developing targeted therapeutic approaches. This could lead to more effective early treatments for Alzheimer's, potentially improving the quality of life for patients and reducing the burden on healthcare systems. The full study can be accessed at: https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.14475