How is education linked to Alzheimer's progress?

In the recent past, researchers have argued that people who continue their education throughout their lives have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia and primarily characterized by progressive memory loss.

However, studies published this year have found no evidence in support of this conclusion.

Our study was designed to look for trends, not prove cause and effect,” explains Dr. Gottesman, who adds, however, that “The major implication of our study is that exposure to education and better cognitive performance when you’re younger can help preserve cognitive function for a while, even if it’s unlikely to change the course of the disease.”