How reading is the key to staving off dementia: Illiterate people ‘are three times more likely to develop the memory-robbing disorder’
- Researchers looked at nearly 1,000 people in their 70s over four-year period
- Memory robbing disorder tripled in those who were never taught to read or write
- Scientists say being literate lets people engage in brain stimulating activities
Illiterate people may be up to three times more likely to develop dementia, a study suggests.
Researchers from Columbia University in New York looked at nearly 1,000 people in their late 70s over a four-year period.
They found the risk of the memory-robbing disorder tripled in those who were never taught how to read or write.
Being literate allows people to engage in activities that stimulate the brain, such as reading newspapers and helping grandchildren with homework.
Illiterate people are up to three times more likely to develop dementia, a study suggests
Around 7million Britons never learn how to read or write, according to the National Literacy Trust.
In the US, there are roughly 32million illiterate people, according to the Department of Education.
The cause of dementia remains unknown – but evidence is quickly mounting that keeping the brain stimulated fends it off.
And learning new things, as well as social interaction, build up cognitive reserve – the mind’s resistance to damage of the brain.
The 983 participants – an average age of 77 – all had less than four years of school experience and lived in northern Manhattan.
Many were born and raised in rural areas in the Dominican Republic where access to education was limited.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
A GLOBAL CONCERN
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders, that is, conditions affecting the brain.
There are many different types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of types of dementia.
Dementia is a global concern but it is most often seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live into very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports there are more than 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK today, of which more than 500,000 have Alzheimer’s.
It is estimated that the number of people living with dementia in the UK by 2025 will rise to over 1 million.
As a person’s age increases, so does the risk of them developing dementia.
Rates of diagnosis are improving but many people with dementia are thought to still be undiagnosed.
IS THERE A CURE?
Currently there is no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow down its progression and the earlier it is spotted the more effective treatments are.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society
Volunteers were divided into two groups – 237 who were illiterate and 746 people who could read and write.
Participants had medical exams and took memory and thinking tests at the start, as well as at follow-up appointments that occurred every two years.
Testing included producing as many words as possible when given a category such as fruit or clothing.
Thirty-five per cent of illiterate volunteers had dementia at the start of the study. Of the people who could read, just 18 per cent had the disorder.
After four years, rates of dementia rose to 48 and 27 per cent, respectively. Results were published in the journal Neurology.
And after adjusting for age, socioeconomic status and heart disease, illiterate adults had nearly treble the risk of dementia.
Lead author Dr Jennifer Manly said: ‘Being able to read and write allows people to engage in more activities that use the brain, like reading newspapers and helping children and grandchildren with homework.
‘Previous research has shown such activities may reduce the risk of dementia.
‘Our new study provides more evidence that reading and writing may be important factors in helping maintain a healthy brain.
‘These results suggest that reading may help strengthen the brain in many ways that may help prevent or delay the onset of dementia.
‘Even if they only have a few years of education, people who learn to read and write may have lifelong advantages over people who never learn these skills.’
Dr Manly said future studies should find out if putting more resources into programs that teach people to read and write help reduce the risk of dementia.
A limitation of the study was that researchers did not ask how or when literate study participants learned to read and write.
The number of people with dementia is expected to more than double by 2040, from 880,000 to 1.6million in the UK and 4.7million to 8.5million in the US.
Source: Read Full Article