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I have to admit, I don't take many of these studies to seriously and certainly not from the Wash Post but I do think we are staying younger longer. I have heard this for many years now. Much of this has to do with better health care, earlier diagnoses of illnesses and our desire to stay busy and active.
I have to admit, I don't take many of these studies to seriously and certainly not from the Wash Post but I do think we are staying younger longer. I have heard this for many years now. Much of this has to do with better health care, earlier diagnoses of illnesses and our desire to stay busy and active.
The study was reported by the Post but not generated by it. It originally came from Kaiser Health News and is a summary of some material presented at the Population Association of America's annual meeting.
The article in the OP agrees with your assessment. Of interest to me is the dramatic effect of education on impairment in later life. It makes me wonder if there is something going on with the brain that makes it less likely for someone to finish high school and also to have a greater risk of cognitive impairment at a later age.
Poor brain health does seem to play a part. I don't think it would play that much of a part as to whether someone finishes high school, maybe some though.
But sources claim that poor mental health (bi-polar, paranoia, etc.) often preceeds Alzheimer's.
It sure does make you wonder. Something else I read said it's about 1/3 genetic, 1/3 environmental, and 1/3 ???. Very elusive disease.
Poor brain health does seem to play a part. I don't think it would play that much of a part as to whether someone finishes high school, maybe some though.
But sources claim that poor mental health (bi-polar, paranoia, etc.) often preceeds Alzheimer's.
It sure does make you wonder. Something else I read said it's about 1/3 genetic, 1/3 environmental, and 1/3 ???. Very elusive disease.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guidoLaMoto
It's not so much the education itself, but the mind-set to keep on use your brain as you age.
Your brain is like any other muscle-- you gotta exercise it to keep it strong
The article in the OP said that college graduates could expect to live 80% of their remaining lives after age 65 without cognitive impairment. For those who fail to complete high school, it drops to 50%. It just makes me wonder if there is some existing impairment that predisposes to dropping out of high school and later to dementia. Of course it could be environmental, too, from drugs, including tobacco and alcohol, to poor nutrition dating to childhood.
The article in the OP said that college graduates could expect to live 80% of their remaining lives after age 65 without cognitive impairment. For those who fail to complete high school, it drops to 50%. It just makes me wonder if there is some existing impairment that predisposes to dropping out of high school and later to dementia. Of course it could be environmental, too, from drugs, including tobacco and alcohol, to poor nutrition dating to childhood.
I think a lot of it has to do with stress too. Being poor is STRESSFUL. Stress does a lot of bad things to your body, so it wouldn't surprise me if it eroded your mental capabilties as well.
What about genetics? Our parents and grandparents had less education but really no cognitive decline before they died, just my mother in law became slightly more forgetful in her last few weeks.
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