Dr. Adams
11-20-2008, 02:24 PM
"A new imaging study looking at plaque burden in the brains of individuals with and without mild dementia strongly supports the long-held cognitive-reserve hypothesis, that those with more education are better able to maintain their cognitive function in the presence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology.
This study supports the cognitive hypothesis, which suggests that there are individual differences in people's ability to handle the plaques and tangles characteristic of Alzheimer's pathology.
Even though they had a similar plaque burden, individuals with mild dementia who had more years of education had fewer symptoms compared with people with less education. This suggests the more education you have, the better able you are to cope with this pathological burden without exhibiting dementia symptoms.
Research conducted by others suggests that cognitively stimulating activities such as taking a class, reading the paper, reading books, and engaging in social activities might be good for the brain as well as the body."
Arch Neurol. 2008;65:1467-1471
This study supports the cognitive hypothesis, which suggests that there are individual differences in people's ability to handle the plaques and tangles characteristic of Alzheimer's pathology.
Even though they had a similar plaque burden, individuals with mild dementia who had more years of education had fewer symptoms compared with people with less education. This suggests the more education you have, the better able you are to cope with this pathological burden without exhibiting dementia symptoms.
Research conducted by others suggests that cognitively stimulating activities such as taking a class, reading the paper, reading books, and engaging in social activities might be good for the brain as well as the body."
Arch Neurol. 2008;65:1467-1471