Faster Dementia for More Educated People

clipped from psychcentral.com Educated Lose Memory Faster clipped from psychcentral.com A new study suggests that although the onset of dementia may be delayed among individuals with more years of education, when dementia does develop, the educated lose their memory faster than those with less education. The study found for each additional year of formal education, the rapid accelerated memory decline associated with oncoming dementia was delayed by approximately two and one half months. However, once that accelerated decline commenced, the people with more education saw their rate of cognitive decline accelerate 4 percent faster for each additional year of education. “While higher levels of education delay the onset of dementia, once it begins, the accelerated memory loss is more rapid in people with more education,” said Dr. Hall. “This rapid decline may be explained by how people with more education have a greater cognitive reserve, or the brain’s ability to maintain function in spite of damage,” added Hall.

Hmm, I am doomed to a quick decline in my faculties since I became over-educated. Darn it.