Orlando, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Research shows that our diet and exercise can affect our risk of dementia. But did you know that your income and education level might play a role too? It turns out, dementia is not just about age and family history.
Every three seconds, someone around the world develops dementia. “The two strongest risk factors are age and family history,” says Dr. James E. Galvin from the University of Miami. However, a recent study from University College London reveals that education is also a major factor. Those with post-secondary education have a 43% lower chance of developing mild cognitive impairment, which can lead to dementia.
According to Dr. Joshua D. Bundy from Tulane University, those without a high school diploma face the highest risk. He emphasizes that education impacts health because it affects job opportunities and income. Without a good income, access to essentials like health insurance can be limited.
The U.K. study highlighted that people in the wealthiest third of the population have a 26% lower chance of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. This suggests that having resources for treatment is important.
Dr. Bundy believes that socioeconomic factors are just as crucial as family history and lifestyle when it comes to dementia risk. “Why not address the factors we can change to reduce the risk of dementia?” he asks.
Interestingly, education may also help reverse cognitive decline. The study found that individuals with post-secondary education or those in manual labor jobs were 81% more likely to improve from mild cognitive impairment with treatment.
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