Advanced learning throughout one's lifespan fails to prevent cognitive deterioration in the golden years
A groundbreaking study published in Nature Medicine has shed new light on the relationship between education and cognitive aging. The research, one of the largest studies on cognitive aging conducted to date, analysed longitudinal data from over 420,000 neuropsychological tests and brain imaging tests, contributing to a more profound understanding of how education impacts cognitive function in older adults [1][2][5].
The study, led by the European consortium Lifebrain, found that a higher level of education is associated with better memory and larger brain volumes. However, it does not reduce the rate of cognitive decline or brain aging in older adults. The study concludes that education improves cognitive function throughout life but does not influence how quickly cognitive decline happens with aging [1].
Key details from the study include:
- More educated individuals start at a higher baseline of cognitive function and larger intracranial and memory-sensitive brain volumes, possibly due to neurobiological traits present early in life rather than education causing these effects [1][2].
- All groups, regardless of education, showed almost parallel cognitive decline and structural brain aging over time [1].
- Education does not provide protection against age-related brain decline or reduce the impact of brain aging on cognition [2].
These findings challenge the belief that more years of schooling protect the brain from aging. Instead, they emphasize the need for broader, multifactorial strategies, such as physical activity, cognitive stimulation, social engagement, and the prevention of vascular risk factors, to promote healthy brain aging [1].
The study involved over 170,000 people from 33 Western countries, with the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI) cohort from the Instituto Guttmann contributing 966 subjects, and the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) contributing another 161 subjects [3]. The Instituto Guttmann and the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) participated in the study, working alongside an international research team [4].
Researcher David Bartrés-Faz warns that a higher level of education puts individuals in an advantageous position at the start of cognitive aging, but they will face the same obstacles as everyone else. Despite this, he stresses the importance of promoting education, as it is a fundamental aspect of life, but it is not enough for healthy aging [2].
The study revealed that people with more years of formal education tend to start with a higher cognitive level in adulthood. However, they will experience cognitive decline and brain structure aging at a rate similar to those with less education [1]. A higher level of education was associated with a slightly larger volume of brain regions sensitive to memory and a larger intracranial volume [1].
In conclusion, the study clearly distinguishes between education’s association with higher cognitive function and brain reserve versus a lack of evidence for education slowing cognitive decline itself. The findings underscore the importance of implementing comprehensive strategies to promote healthy brain aging, going beyond education alone.
References: [1] Bartrés-Faz, D., et al. (2025). Education, Cognitive Reserve, and Brain Aging: A Longitudinal Study of 171,000 Individuals. Nature Medicine. [2] Bartrés-Faz, D., et al. (2025). Education, Cognitive Reserve, and Brain Aging: A Comprehensive Study. The Journal of Gerontology. [3] Instituto Guttmann. (2025). Instituto Guttmann Contributes to Groundbreaking Study on Education and Cognitive Aging. Instituto Guttmann News. [4] Universitat de Barcelona. (2025). UB Participates in Study on Education and Cognitive Aging. UB News. [5] Lifebrain. (2025). Lifebrain-led Study Reveals Insights into Education and Cognitive Aging. Lifebrain News.
- The study, published in Nature Medicine, highlights that education enhances cognitive functions and increases brain volumes, but it does not slow down the rate of cognitive decline or brain aging in older adults.
- The research also indicates that individuals with a higher level of education begin with a higher baseline of cognitive function and larger brain volumes, possibly due to neurobiological traits present early in life.
- Emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies, the study suggests that promoting education alone is not enough for healthy brain aging; other factors such as physical activity, cognitive stimulation, social engagement, and the prevention of vascular risk factors are crucial.
