EDUCATION AND DECLINE IN COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE - COMPENSATORY BUT NOTPROTECTIVE

The association between education and cognitive change was investigate d in a large community sample of elderly people followed up after 3.6 years. Lower education was predictive of decline on the Mini-Mental St ate Examination (MMSE) and on tests of language and knowledge, but not on tests of cognitive speed, memory or reaction time. The effects of education were not attenuated when adjusted for health, disability or activity level. The findings suggest that education slows the rate of decline on crystallized intelligence, but not other cognitive abilitie s. Education may compensate for neurodegenerative changes rather than protect against them. ((C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)