Reducing Dementia Risk through Later-Life Learning

Early-Life vs. Later-Life Learning

An estimated 6.7 million adults aged 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the United States. While low education in early life is a major risk factor for dementia, accounting for 7%–20% of risk, little has been known about how education in later life is related to cognitive function in older adults. New research led by Associate Professor Hanzhang Xu, PhD, RN, FAAN, published recently in Innovation in Aging, has shown that later-life learning is associated with improved cognitive function. 

“Imagine your brain as a glass of water, where the water represents your cognitive function—thinking, remembering, problem-solving. As people age, the amount of water in the glass tends to decrease,” Dr. Xu explained. “To maintain cognitive function in later life, you can either have a larger glass with more water in it or try to lose water at a slower pace.” 

“Early-life education, one of the most important protective factors against dementia, is typically how people develop a larger glass. But not everyone had opportunities to pursue higher education when they were younger,” Dr. Xu continued. “Our research sought to understand whether pursuing education or engaging in learning activities later in life could still be beneficial.”

With only around half of U.S. adults having obtained some college education or more in their early lives, the potential for later-life learning to reduce dementia risk poses a tremendous opportunity for the American population.

Study Shows Benefits for Everyone

The study found that people who engaged in any learning activities, such as courses or training programs, showed better cognitive function over time compared to those who never participated in such activities, and that these benefits remained consistent as people aged. On average, the cognitive function of a 71-year-old who engaged in later-life learning was similar to that of an average 65-year-old.

“One finding that surprised us was that the cognitive benefits of later-life learning were consistent across major demographic groups and regardless of how much education people had earlier in life,” said Dr. Xu. “In simpler terms, continuing to learn as you age could be beneficial for everyone.”

According to Dr. Xu, further research is needed to examine which types of learning activities might be most effective for maintaining cognitive function, and how to develop programs and policies that encourage older adults to engage in later-life learning.

“This might include publicly funded educational institutions offering dedicated lifelong learning programs, or public libraries providing electronic resources that make educational materials more accessible to everyone,” said Dr. Xu. “Understanding these practical aspects will help translate our research findings into real-world solutions that can help more people maintain their cognitive health as they age.”