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Differences in early life cognitive function explain the association between low education and early dementia risk
Medrxiv : the Preprint Server for Health Sciences
|July 1, 2024
Summary
Cognitive function in youth, not education level, is key to preventing dementia. Low cognitive scores significantly increase dementia risk, independent of family background or education.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Dementia prevention strategies often target modifiable risk factors.
- Low education is a recognized risk factor for dementia, but its impact is complex.
- Assessing education's independent effect requires large samples due to confounding factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the independent associations of education and cognitive function with dementia risk.
- To clarify the roles of familial and non-familial factors in these relationships.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 207,814 Norwegian men born 1950-1959.
- Utilized cognitive test scores from military conscription.
- Examined associations with dementia diagnosis, controlling for education, socioeconomic status, and within-family factors.
Main Results:
- Low education showed an increased dementia risk (HR=1.37), but this was explained by cognitive scores.
- Low cognitive scores significantly doubled dementia risk (HR=2.00), independent of education.
- The cognitive score-dementia link persisted after controlling for family factors, suggesting non-familial influences.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive function in early adulthood is a stronger predictor of dementia risk than education.
- Interventions to enhance cognitive function during childhood and adolescence may be more effective for dementia prevention.
- Non-familial factors play a crucial role in the link between cognitive ability and dementia.
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