Study Links Alzheimer’s, Education

Poorly educated people are four times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those with higher levels of learning, a new Canadian study shows.

The findings, published this week in the medical journal Neurology, confirm much of the evidence collected in the last few years showing that people who are more mentally active throughout their lives tend to be insulated against the effects of Alzheimer’s, said epidemiologist Joan Lindsay, one of the investigators in the study.

“It doesn’t mean if you are educated, then you won’t get the disease, but the likelihood is much lower,” she said.

The study was conducted in 36 cities across Canada and involved more than 10,000 people.