Want to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia? Go Back to School!

Want to decrease your chance of experiencing the forgetfulness and confusion that comes from Alzheimer's disease? According to several research studies, one way to do this is by increasing your education. The theory behind these findings is that increased education boosts your cognitive reserve. Think of cognitive reserve as over-training for a race; for example, running 5 miles in practice so that you can run the 3 mile race with ease and without fatigue. Even if you have a cold on the day of the race, you may still be able to run 3 miles well because of your training. It seems to be similar with our brains. If we stretch them and strengthen them through higher levels of education (and other studies show similar benefits from games, reading and other mental activities), they will be more able to compensate if they develop some of the physical abnormalities that may come with early dementia. Research has shown that people with higher education often continue to function well cognitively despite some of the changes associated with early Alzheimer's disease such as beta amyloid protein build up in the brain, while those with lower education levels show cognitive deficits with the same amount of protein deposits. So, you may want to consider taking a class online or at your local school. It may enrich your life, increase your knowledge, and give you a boost in the future as well. Related Reading How Does Education Level Affect Your Risk of Dementia? (Here's the full article...
Source: About Alzheimers Disease - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news