Relationship Between Education and Dementia

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to review the relationship between education and dementia. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted of all published studies examining the relationship between education and dementia listed in the PubMed and PsycINFO databases from January 1985 to July 2010. The inclusion criteria were a measure of education and a dementia diagnosis by a standardized diagnostic procedure. Alzheimer’s disease and Total Dementia were the outcomes. Results A total of 88 study populations from 71 articles met inclusion criteria. Overall, 51 (58%) reported significant effects of lower education on risk for dementia whereas 37 (42%) reported no significant relationship. A relationship between education and risk for dementia was more consistent in developed compared to developing regions. Age, gender, race/ethnicity, and geographical region moderated the relationship. Conclusions Lower education was associated with a greater risk for dementia in many but not all studies. The level of education associated with risk for dementia varied by study population and more years of education did not uniformly attenuate the risk for dementia. It appeared that a more consistent relationship with dementia occurred when years of education reflected cognitive capacity, suggesting that the effect of education on risk for dementia may be best evaluated within the context of a lifespan developmental model.

Bioinorganic Chemistry of Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Cumulated evidence shows that the risk of AD can be reduced both by avoiding the previously mentioned exogenous risk factors, including enhancing neuronal capacity, for example, by education, 57,58 and intake of vitamin B 12 , folate, antioxidants such as vitamin E (evidence for vitamin C is not conclusive), 55 unsaturated fatty acids, 55,59 cereal, and fish, or controlled caloric restriction, 60 and regular mental 61 and physical activity. 56,57 Some factors may correlate with but not cause disease progression: For example, education is a key component of an active cognitive life style that may reduce risk of AD, 57,58 but education may correlate with other factors such as dietary intake.…”

“…290 Various genetic risk factors become active at various stages of life, some possibly during early CNS development 729 (presenilin may have a role in fetal neurogenesis 988 ) and some from later brain trauma 7 or chemical exposure [41][42][43]47 and may lead to initiation of the spiral cascade in Figure 15. 4,32 (2) Life-style-related risk factors such as antioxidant deficiency, 55 obesity, 35,36 hypercholesterolemia, 39,40 passivity, 57,61,56 and smoking 34,772 may aggravate these risk factors by challenging metabolic networks, the already weakened stress response, and overall neuronal capacity. They all relate to metal ion dyshomeostasis, notably via zinc, as discussed in section 7.…”

Association between depression severity and executive functioning in late-life depression: a systematic review

“…For instance, the presence of late-life depression symptoms 37 and low levels of education are significant predictors for development of dementia. 38,39 Several of the included studies lack information regarding MMSE and just one of the studies prospectively assures that the included patients did not develop any kind of dementia.…”

APOE4, oxidative stress and decreased repair capacity - a no-brainer. Faulty lipid metabolism and increased levels of oxidative damage may be risk factors in the pathogenesis of late-onset dementia

“…No environmental factor increasing significantly the risk for the development of AD and Parkinson disease with dementia has been identified, except history of head trauma [7,8]. Less than 7 years of formal schooling has also been reported to be a risk factor for AD in later life [9], although this may be related to initial cognitive reserve. AD and PD are known to run in families, but the majority of the cases (up to 90 %) are sporadic.…”