How Does Education Protect Against Dementia?

This study confirms that higher level of education is associated with a lower incidence of clinical dementia but not reduced pathology.

Numerous studies have shown that higher educational levels are associated with lower dementia risk. The mechanism might be either reducing pathological changes in the brain (protection) or increasing “brain reserve” (which compensates for pathological changes). To examine these hypotheses, researchers conducted a coordinated analysis of findings from three European studies in which participants' demographic features were recorded on recruitment and neuropathological findings were studied at death. Dementia was ascertained by patient and informant interviews, medical records, and death certificates. Of 872 participants whose brains were analyzed, 56% had dementia.

Education level correlated with higher brain weight and with lower incidence of…

Reviewing Author

Howard S. Kirshner, MD

How Does Education Protect Against Dementia?

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Reviewing Author