Dementia sufferers with more years of education lose their memory faster than those with less education, according to a study published in the journal Neurology.

The study followed 488 participants for a period of six years using annual cognitive tests. They found that for each additional year of formal education the rapid accelerated memory decline associated with oncoming dementia was delayed by approximately two and a half months. However, once this decline commenced those with more education saw a four percent faster decline for each additional year of education.

“Our study showed that a person with 16 years of formal education would experience a rate of memory decline that is 50 percent faster than someone with just four years of education,” said Dr Hall, lead researcher.

“This rapid decline may be explained by how people with more education have a greater cognitive reserve, or the brains ability to maintain function in spite of damage.”

The study corroborates previous research which indicates that people with more education had more rapid memory loss after diagnosis of dementia.

www.neurology.org

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