Is educational attainment protective against developing dementia? A twin study of genetic and environmental contributions.

ABSTRACT: Low educational attainment is recognized as a modifiable risk factor for dementia. Despite the commonly accepted notion that greater educational attainment confers lower dementia risk, few family-based studies have investigated the causal bases for the association. Using data from seven twin samples from Sweden, Denmark, Australia, and the US participating in the IGEMS (Interplay of Genes and Environment in Multiple Studies) consortium (N = 60,027, 10.92% with dementia), we tested whether twins who achieve higher education than their co-twins have lower risk of dementia. The primary analysis applied a multilevel between-within regression framework, supported by descriptive statistics of within-pair differences. Results confirmed an overall association between educational attainment and dem

SUBMITTER: Walters EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12504008 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature