Childhood school performance, education and occupational complexity: a life-course study of dementia in the Kungsholmen Project.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cognitive reserve hypothesis predicts that intellectually demanding activities over the life course protect against dementia. We investigate if childhood school performance remains associated with dementia once education and occupational complexity are taken into account.

Methods

A cohort of 440 individuals aged 75+ from the Kungsholmen Project was followed up for 9 years to detect dementia. To measure early-life contributors to reserve, we used grades at age 9-10 extracted from the school archives. Data on formal education and occupational complexity were collected at baseline and first follow-up. Dementia was ascertained through comprehensive clinical examination. Cox models estimated the relationship between life-course cognitive reserve measures and dementia.<

SUBMITTER: Dekhtyar S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5841626 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature