HHS HealthBeat (July 21, 2008)

Another reason to stay in school

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Learning seems to help people keep their wits about them longer. Researchers say education may offer some protection against cognitive decline – which can include the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Eileen Crimmins of the University of Southern California found that in seven years of survey data on 7,000 people over the age of 70.

``People who have more education live longer without any cognitive decline. They reach an older age – three years on average – before they have cognitive decline.’’  (10 seconds)

Crimmins says the amount of the benefit goes up with the amount of education.

Crimmins thinks education creates brain strength – a sort of mental reserve – that people can call upon later to stave off cognitive decline. The study in the journal of Aging and Health was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: July, 21 2008