Does education prevent the development of dementia?

Purpose: The association of education and the risk of developing dementia a re reviewed. Proposed underlying mechanisms are discussed with the particul ar reference to social aspects. Methods: The discussion is based on recent work published on the association of education and dementia risk dealing wi th incident cases. Results: Strength and consistency of the association as well as the partly established dose response relationship indicate that hig her education is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. This had been explained as a consequence of a greater,brain reserve capacity", w hich might be constituted by different mechanisms in early periods of CNS-d evelopment and during adulthood. Conclusions: Education rather compensates neuro-degenerative changes than protects from dementia. Clinical signs of d ementia will be delayed but not prevented, The knowledge about social aspec ts of this process implies the search for interventions.