Alzheimer’s is a well-known disease affecting many aspects of a patient's life. There still is much to learn about Alzheimer's, and it is a highly active research topic. Here are some of the latest updates. A new study by researchers from Mass General Brigham suggests that when it comes to the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, even genetically determined forms are but one piece of the puzzle. Researchers discovered that an educational buffer and learning slows genetic Alzheimer’s risk. The researchers investigated the influence of genetics and educational attainment on cognitive decline by studying data of 675 people with a mutation PSEN1E280A, which predisposes early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Patients with this mutation are known to develop dementia around the age of 49. The researchers tested patients' cognitive function and educational attainment with this mutation. They found that higher educational attainment, so more years of education, was associated with preserved cognitive ability, particularly for those at the highest genetic risk. The results suggest that educational attainment may be a critical mechanism for reserve cognition in familial Alzheimer’s disease.
The learning buffer, the protection against Alzheimer’s
