Dementia study explains the education question

The latest study on the link between dementia and education has shed some light on a question that has puzzled dementia researchers for some years.

It has long been known that people with more education have a lower risk of developing dementia, but previous tests had failed to uncover any reasons why, according to Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

Now a collaboration between researchers from the UK and Finland has come up with an explanation.

It is believed that education does not prevent dementia-causing changes in the brain from happening, it simply helps the brain withstand these changes.

Mr Ridley explained: "This study highlights this idea of brain reserve or the cognitive reserve as the theory to explain the link.

"The brains cognitive reserve is increased with education, so you can withstand losing more brain cells."

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