Education has been shown to be good for brain health

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In connection with the aging of the population and the increase in life expectancy , the number of people with dementia is increasing. A better understanding of risk factors and protective factors is important for more effective prevention.

Cardiovascular risk factors in middle age are known to be associated with poorer cognitive abilities in old age. A new study from the University of Helsinki and the University of Turku aimed to examine whether education affects this connection. More than 4,000 Finnish twins participated in the study.

“The study showed that cardiovascular disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high body mass index and lack of physical activity , were associated with deterioration of cognitive functions in old age. This connection was stronger in people with a lower level of education compared to people with a higher level of education”, – says the lead author of the study, Dr. Paula ISO-Markku from the University of Helsinki.

The result emphasizes the importance of education. children and adolescents for the prevention of dementia. Academy of Finland researcher Eero Vuoksimaa, the head of the study, emphasizes that the mechanisms of this connection are not yet known, but the results may reflect the effect of cognitive reserve. A higher level of education can increase cognitive reserve, which helps reduce the impact of dementia risk factors.