Loss of Memory May Not Be Affected By Level of
Education
Danielle Goldman
New research shows that one’s level of education may not delay memory loss. Though it has been said that higher levels of education may lessen the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, once the mind starts deteriorating, learning more may not help. This idea comes from the February 2009 issue of Neurology.
A study was
completed on 6,500 people from
All subjects were from different education statuses. People in the study had from eight years of school or fewer to 16 or more years of schooling. Interviews and mental tests were given about every three years. At the beginning of the experiment, those with a higher education did receive better scores, but as time went by, all group’s minds deteriorated at the same rates, not depending on their levels of education. Researchers also showed that the people’s races and occupations did not affect their results.
Alzheimer’s disease is an inevitable disease that prevents the brain from functioning at its fullest extent. It slowly destroys memory, reasoning and thinking skills and even the ability to perform simple tasks. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, neurofibrillary tangles, microglia and plaque gather and clump in the brain. This causes brain tissue to decrease and the brain isn’t able to carry out tasks, learn new things, cope with new problems, and start having hallucinations, delusions and paranoia. People can start to develop Alzheimer’s as early as in their thirties up to their eighties.
Many factors can be put into effect to prevent Alzheimer’s from spreading through the brain. Exercise, a diet full of nutrients, and staying mentally fit all can help preventing the extent of this disease. Other studies are also being conducted to test whether anti-inflammatory drugs [Nsaids] and estrogen may help prevent it. A vaccination is also in the works. Though all of these factors may help prevent Alzheimer’s, once Alzheimer’s goes into effect, nothing can stop or delay the outcomes.
For many years, scientists always thought that memory loss wasn’t found as much in smarter people as in people who had a smaller education. But this study shows that this doesn’t affect the rate at which Alzheimer’s starts taking over the brain. Though higher levels of education may keep the mind strong, functioning and exercising, it doesn’t affect how fast the brain stops this functioning.
Source:
ScienceDaily.com
Works Cited
► "Education for the Whole Brain." Education Reform.net. 2002. 12 Feb 2009
<www.education-reform.net/brain.htm>.
► "Education May Not Affect How Fast You Will Lose Your Memory." ScienceDaily 6
February 2009 12 Feb 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090202174459.htm>.
► Russell, Doug. "Alzheimer's Disease." helpguide.org. 2007. 12 Feb 2009
<http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_disease_symptoms_stages.htm>.