Brains change over time based on environmental, genetic, and many other factors. Some changes can be positive resulting from neurogenesis (creation of new brain cells), adaptation, neuroplasticity, and more. Unfortunately, some physical brain changes are quite negative, such as the most common of all dementias, Alzheimer’s Disease.
Preidt (2010) reports that people with advanced degrees and more education better cope with brain changes and, indeed, appear to have a less risk of developing dementia. Preidt reports that for each additional year of education acquired, there exists an 11 percent reduced risk of developing dementia. However, it is not clear whether it is the education itself, or the improved lifestyle that is often the reward for a higher education.
Preidt reports that in the August 2010 issue of the journal, Brain, a study evaluated the brains of 872 people across three large European studies. Among the points addressed: people with higher education better compensate for dementia and that there is not a one-to-one relationship between diagnosed dementia (during life) and physical brain changes (observed after death).
Study co-author Dr. H. Keage, of the University of Cambridge in England, explained, “Our study shows education in early life appears to enable some people to cope with a lot of changes in their brain before showing dementia symptoms.”
For More Information, References, and Recommendations
Preidt R. (Wednesday, July 28, 2010): Medline Plus, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health