Education may be the best way to protect against cognitive decline, new
research suggests
However, going to college in our 20s isn’t the only way to keep memory,
judgment and focus sharp. Education, household wealth and access to health
care are connected to the brain’s resilience as people get older.
A handful of factors, such as education, income and job type, may increase
the likelihood that people in their mid-50s will still be mentally sharp, a
new study finds.An analysis of data from more than 7,000 U.S. adults showed that these
factors could explain nearly 40% of the differences in the amount of
cognitive ability people had lost by age 54.
The researchers analyzed data from the University of Michigan’s health and
retirement study, which has been tracking more than 20,000 participants for
more than 20 years. The study’s database includes information on
participants’ income, occupation and education, along with personal inform
research suggests
However, going to college in our 20s isn’t the only way to keep memory,
judgment and focus sharp. Education, household wealth and access to health
care are connected to the brain’s resilience as people get older.
A handful of factors, such as education, income and job type, may increase
the likelihood that people in their mid-50s will still be mentally sharp, a
new study finds.An analysis of data from more than 7,000 U.S. adults showed that these
factors could explain nearly 40% of the differences in the amount of
cognitive ability people had lost by age 54.
The researchers analyzed data from the University of Michigan’s health and
retirement study, which has been tracking more than 20,000 participants for
more than 20 years. The study’s database includes information on
participants’ income, occupation and education, along with personal inform
