New Research Shows How to Potentially Prevent Cognitive Decline
Alzheimers and dementia are debilitating conditions that have taken their toll on millions of us. So many people deal with these conditions first-hand, support family members through them, or deal with their effects in a different way. But what can you do to protect your brain health and prevent cognitive decline?
Research is beginning to show that it may be possible.
Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline
New research published in the JAMA Neurology journal indicates that up to ⅓ of cognitive decline cases can be attributed to one of these 8 risk factors:
- Midlife obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Low educational attainment
- Midlife hypertension
- Depression
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Hearing loss
These risk factors vary by race and gender, but the most prominent factors were the first 3: obesity, physical inactivity, and low educational attainment. Interestingly, for hispanic individuals the highest risk factor was low education; for black, white, and American Indian individuals it was midlife obesity; and for asian individuals it was physical inactivity.
This is a major shift. Just 10 years ago, the highest risk factors were physical inactivity, depression, and smoking. This new research highlights that our American lifestyle is changing, and the way we approach both education and physical wellbeing are equally important.
How Addressing Educational Attainment Helps Prevent Cognitive Decline
One of the researchers in this study put it this way:
“Our results also highlight the importance of making sure everyone in our country gets adequate education. COVID-19 had a devastating impact on education and graduation rates and it will be important to help those students get caught up. This is especially true in Hispanic individuals, where low education is the biggest risk factor.”
The way our kids are educated now can impact them as they get older, just as much (if not more) than their physical activity levels. Keeping the brain active, continuing to learn new things, and building mental resilience in people of all ages can help them stay smarter and sharper for longer.
Our kids are suffering. There’s no denying that. More kids than ever need remedial reading interventions and extra classroom support to help them get through.
But the concern isn’t just for emerging readers and younger kids!
Teens and college students are also bearing the brunt of the educational upset that has happened during the pandemic. Fewer students are going to college or pursuing post-high school education in-person, and this decline in education may contribute to greater cognitive decline down the road. Only time will tell, but it is our job now to make sure kids and teens are set up for success!
Brain Help for All Ages
LearningRx takes a holistic approach to supporting better thinking, memory, learning, and reading. Instead of tutoring which only targets one subject area, we take a look at your brain as a whole to figure out why you’re struggling and how we can make you mentally stronger.
While many of our clients are struggling students, we also work with older adults who want to protect mental sharpness and regain a higher quality of life.
