Educational attainment does not influence brain aging

Lars Nyberg*, Fredrik Magnussen, Anders Lundquist, William Baaré, David Bartrés-Faz, Lars Bertram, C. J. Boraxbekk, Andreas M. Brandmaier, Christian A. Drevon, Klaus Ebmeier, Paolo Ghisletta, Richard N. Henson, Carme Junqué, Rogier Kievit, Maike Kleemeyer, Ethan Knights, Simone Kühn, Ulman Lindenberger, Brenda W.J.H. Penninx, Sara PudasØystein Sørensen, Lídia Vaqué-Alcázar, Kristine B. Walhovd, Anders M. Fjell*

*Corresponding author for this work
    33 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Education has been related to various advantageous lifetime outcomes. Here, using longitudinal structural MRI data (4,422 observations), we tested the influential hypothesis that higher education translates into slower rates of brain aging. Cross-sectionally, education was modestly associated with regional cortical volume. However, despite marked mean atrophy in the cortex and hippocampus, education did not influence rates of change. The results were replicated across two independent samples. Our findings challenge the view that higher education slows brain aging.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number2101644118
    JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
    Volume118
    Issue number18
    ISSN0027-8424
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 04.05.2021

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Educational attainment does not influence brain aging'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this