[casey2]

Why is the title so misleading? That isn't at all what the study measured. Just read the article 1) looked at a group of 80-year-olds for 8 years 2) checked their economic status throughout life using reading and leisure time (# of library and museum visits as a proxy) 3) Found that higher scores in lifetime enrichment were associated with a 38% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and a 36% lower risk of MCI.

They did everything possible so you wouldn't draw the idiotic conclusion and yet you still clickbait. Shameful! A rise in shark attacks doesn't increase ice cream sales. Reading and writing Absolutely CANNOT lower dementia risk and you are a liar if you claim otherwise. If you want to lower your dementia risk be born with a higher SES.

[kashunstva]

Given that dementia can result from various pathological processes, I wonder what it is about dementia that leads you to conclude that these forms of cognitive stimulation cannot possibly reduce one’s risk. I agree that the title is misleading, though, in large part because it assumes causation, whereas association is about all one can say. At least both absolute and relative risk were mentioned in the write up; that’s rare to see.

The original paper is behind a firewall of course, so I cannot access it. Possibly they controlled for other measures of SES? I don’t know.

[j_bum]

I think the title of this post should be changed to match the “Lifetime cognitive enrichment” from the original publication.