Fjell Anders, Rogeberg Ole, Sørensen Øystein, Amlien Inge, Bartres-Faz David, Brandmaier Andreas, Cattaneo Gabriele, Duzel Sandra, Grydeland Håkon, Henson Rik, Kühn Simone, Lindenberger Ulman, Lyngstad Torkild, Mowinckel Athanasia, Nyberg Lars, Pascual-Leone Alvaro, Sole-Padulles Cristina, Sneve Markus, Solana Javier, Stromstad Marie, Watne Leiv, Walhovd Kristine Beate, Vidal Didac
Department of Psychology.
Frisch Center for Economic Research.
Res Sq. 2025 Feb 10:rs.3.rs-5938408. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5938408/v1.
Why education is linked to higher cognitive function in aging is fiercely debated. Leading theories propose that education reduces brain decline in aging, enhances tolerance to brain pathology, or that it does not affect cognitive decline but rather reflects higher early-life cognitive function. To test these theories, we analyzed 407.356 episodic memory scores from 170.795 participants > 50 years, alongside 15.157 brain MRIs from 6.472 participants across 33 Western countries. More education was associated with better memory, larger intracranial volume and slightly larger volume of memory-sensitive brain regions. However, education did not protect against age-related decline or weakened effects of brain decline on cognition. The most parsimonious explanation for the results is that the associations reflect factors present early in life, including propensity of individuals with certain traits to pursue more education. While education has numerous benefits, the notion that it provides protection against cognitive or brain decline is not supported.
为何教育与衰老过程中更高的认知功能相关联，这一问题引发了激烈的争论。主流理论认为，教育能减缓衰老过程中的大脑衰退，增强对脑部病变的耐受性，或者认为教育并不影响认知衰退，而是反映了早年较高的认知功能。为了验证这些理论，我们分析了来自33个西方国家的170795名50岁以上参与者的407356项情景记忆分数，以及6472名参与者的15157份脑部核磁共振成像。受教育程度越高，记忆力越好，颅内体积越大，对记忆敏感的脑区体积也略大。然而，教育并不能预防与年龄相关的衰退，也不能减弱大脑衰退对认知的影响。对这些结果最简洁的解释是，这些关联反映了生命早期存在的因素，包括具有某些特质的个体追求更多教育的倾向。虽然教育有诸多益处，但教育能预防认知或大脑衰退这一观点并未得到支持。
