Higher Education Level Does Not Slow Cognitive Decline with Age, Study Finds
Higher Education Level Does Not Slow Cognitive Decline with Age, Study Finds
The Institut Guttmann and the University of Barcelona take part in one of the largest studies to date on brain aging and education. The findings challenge the common belief that more years of schooling protect against cognitive decline.
An international study led by the University of Oslo and published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine concludes that higher levels of education do not slow down age-related cognitive decline. While formal education is associated with better cognitive performance in early adulthood, the pace of decline is similar across educational levels.
The Institut Guttmann and the University of Barcelona were the only Spanish institutions to participate in this major study, which analyzed longitudinal data from more than 170,000 individuals across 33 countries. It is one of the most comprehensive and generalizable studies ever conducted in this field, within the framework of the European Lifebrain consortium.
“Higher education puts you in a better starting position, but once the race begins, you face the same obstacles as everyone else,” says David Bartrés-Faz, principal investigator of the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI) at the Institut Guttmann and Professor at the UB School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The study analyzed over 420,000 neuropsychological assessments and brain imaging tests, such as MRI scans, from 27 international cohorts with follow-ups of up to 28 years. The BBHI cohort contributed 966 participants who completed tests on memory, reasoning, processing speed, language, and more.
“Brains age in a very similar way during midlife and old age, regardless of educational background. Education offers early cognitive advantages, but does not alter the pace of decline,” explains Gabriele Cattaneo, PhD in Biomedicine and researcher at BBHI.
The findings call for a broader and more integrative approach to public policy and brain health strategies.
“Education remains important, but it’s not enough. A lifelong, multifactorial approach is essential, including physical activity, ongoing cognitive stimulation, social engagement, and prevention of vascular risk factors,” notes Javier Solana, Research Director at the Institut Guttmann.
Read the full Nature Medicine article here.
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