MONDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Education does not slow the rate of cognitive decline among the elderly, new research shows.

The finding contradicts several earlier studies that suggested more education lowered the risk for Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

"Your rate of cognitive decline really doesn't depend on the number of years of schooling you've had," said study author Robert S. Wilson, a professor of neuropsychology at Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

However, more education "does give you the advantage of having a higher level of cognitive functioning in old age. You have to decline for somewhat longer to reach the effect where you're no longer able to be independent and engage in self-care," he noted.

The Rush researchers said their study differs in several ways from the earlier research that found an education connection: It followed a large population (6,500 people) over a longer period of time (up to 14 years) and, most importantly, measured their changes in cognition at three-year intervals, Wilson explained. The research that measured changes in cognition at only two points in time was limited, he suggested. "Assessment of cognition at three or more points in time permits separation of initial level of cognition from the rate of change," the study authors wrote.

The researchers added that there have been other studies using three or more testing points, but the results have been inconsistent because of the confusing effects of other variables. Wilson and his team found the variables related to age, sex, race and five chronic diseases (heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and cancer) connected with aging had no effect on the results.

The findings were expected to be published in the Feb. 3 issue of Neurology.

The methods that the Rush researchers used to measure cognitive changes over time may also be a model for how people should be monitored for cognitive changes, said Dr. Michael Ehlers, a professor of neurobiology at Duke University's Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

"I think we are really on the verge of major new therapies that are going to change the landscape of dementias, and this has come about as a result of the investment that has been made in basic neuroscience. It's almost certainly going to pay off in a big way," Ehlers said.

Because the Rush study shows that higher levels of education do not reduce the rate of cognitive decline, brain exercises later in life might not be helpful, Ehlers added. "It makes me leery of doing more crossword puzzles and reading the New York Times at 75 years old," he explained.

But if more education means it takes someone longer to decline to the point where they are debilitated, that does have an important impact on the tremendous costs connected with caring for people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, he explained.

"It's almost as if you have to pay up front or pay later. Either you invest in education or you invest in nursing home care," Ehlers said.

Rk-I really believe the last sentence in the article. I would rather pay up front for an education than longer stays in a nursing home. By the way-"nursing home" is an outdated term. They are now "skilled nursing facilities" or SNFs. One of our docs complained about the new term-thought it sounded like someone with a cold.

bluedaze, I agree that education is the way of life, I just don't believe that if your well educated it will slow it down. Dh was very well educated very smart it didn't help him. In fact when I told our friends and family they all were like oh shit if it can happen to him it can happen to any of us. He was a sharp as a tack! He could retain anything he read, heard, saw. Numbers were his thing, he could spell anything and I mean anything. His conversations were over most peoples heads (mine certainly) One year for Christmas my Mom bought him a board game that I swear was for rocket sciencetist. I looked at her and said who do you think is gonna be able to play it with him? It sat around cause none of us could even attepmt to compete with him, some of his friends are teachers, doctors, etc. Anyway, after we bought the resort I put the game in the rec room for guest to play, everyone would open it up and just laugh. In the 4 years we had the resort only a handful of people could even attempt to play. He was in heaven when those few Mensa people were there to play with him.

The doctor in town who was just diagnosed this past summer was a contributing professor, as well maintaining a thriving practice.

I guess I am of the believe that if its meant to be it's meant to be.

I kinda have the attitude about the Alzheimer's and education thing as I have the attitude about Alzheimer's and short legs! Rk

As I was going thru AD w/my DH, the Nun's Study came out & I thought, 'no how, no way,' education has nothing to do with it. It may be true that sustained brain activity can increase brain cells, but no matter how many cells you have, it won't stop AD--probably won't slow it down either. That's like saying education will stave off cancer or any other condition. Look at the topic here about 'what your spouse did before AD,' and you'll see there were really no couch potatoes. Even w/out a formal education, you can still be very mentally active. Sure, we all have some control over our body & our health, but there are no guarantees.