Loss of synapses could just be a side effect of a number of things relating to aging I suppose but its well documented they decrease in number with age and its well documented that people who have a specific proclivity for a talent or passion develop their synaptic networks tailored to that fact and when they get AD that network helps them maintain that ability when all else is lost. I see no reason to think that by adding and protecting synapses, cognition wouldn't improve but the proof is in the upcoming pudding I suppose.