Older Americans have become wiser
Urban pensioners were less susceptible to dementia
Natalia Pelezneva, Naked Science
Scientists compared data from two studies involving 16,000 elderly Americans and found that rural residents are more likely to suffer from dementia and less intense cognitive impairments. The studies were conducted using the same methodology in 2000 and 2010. It turned out that the number of people suffering from dementia has decreased in 10 years. Scientists attribute this to investments in the development of secondary education made in the first half of the twentieth century. The study once again confirms that learning helps to keep a clear mind for longer.
In 2000, 16,386 Americans over the age of 55 participated in the study of cognitive skills, in 2010 - 16,311. Scientists conducted a telephone survey, which included 27 questions and simple tasks. For example, participants were asked to count backwards from 20 to 1 or to name the antonym of the word "generous". Dementia or a condition close to it was recorded in those who could answer six or fewer questions out of 27. If a person answered 7-11 questions, scientists noted that he had a small or medium level of cognitive impairment. The survey participants also told about their age, nationality, the presence of a spouse, the number of children and the level of education.
Comparing the results of the surveys, the scientists found out that in ten years the number of those who scored less than six points in the test has decreased.
In 2000, the number of respondents with dementia or a condition close to it was 7.1% among the rural population and 5.4% among urban residents. Weak cognitive impairment was noted in 19.8% and 15.9% of respondents, respectively.
In 2010, 5.1% of rural pensioners and 4.4% of urban residents scored six or fewer points (16.5% and 14.9% with mild disabilities, respectively).
The researchers compared several factors presumably associated with the risk of developing dementia: the age of the respondents, their nationality, financial security, health status and education level. The latter turned out to be the most influential factor capable of protecting intelligence. Dementia was much less likely to develop in those who studied for a total of more than 12 years. Scientists point out that during the twentieth century, secondary education became more accessible, so the total number of those who crossed this 12-year mark is growing.
The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Weden et al., Secular Trends in Dementia and Cognitive Impairment of U.S. Rural and Urban Older Adults).
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