Socio-economic factors influence the risk of dementia and recovery, according to research by Telangana Today

Researchers from University College London (UCL) analyzed the time spent in each cognitive state and the likelihood of progression to neurocognitive disorders such as cognitive impairment and dementia. This approach allowed them to understand how socioeconomic factors influence the progression of these disorders and the time individuals spend in each cognitive state.

New Delhi: Not just genes, a new study has found that socio-economic factors such as education, occupation and wealth can also influence the likelihood of development. cognitive impairment or dementia later in life and whether it is likely that someone will recover.

By estimating the time spent in each cognitive state and the likelihood of transitions to neuro-cognitive disorders such as cognitive impairment and dementia, University College London (UCL) researchers were able to gain a comprehensive understanding of how socio-economic factors influence progression of cognitive disorders. a person’s impairment, as well as the duration spent in each cognitive state over time.

Lead author Aswathikutty Gireesh from UCL Epidemiology and Health Care said it is possible that education and intellectually demanding jobs provide more mental stimulation and help build a stronger brain reserve to help protect individuals against cognitive impairment and dementia.

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, highlights the crucial role of wealth, education and occupation not only in reducing the risk of transitioning from mild cognitive impairment to dementia, but also in increasing the chance of its reversal of cognitive impairment in a healthy cognitive state. , which is promising, said senior author Dr Dorina Cadar from UCL’s Department of Behavioral Science and Health and Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

The researchers monitored how people moved between different states: healthy, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. They also considered the possibility of reversals, where individuals improved from mild cognitive impairment to a healthy state.

The team found that people from more socio-economically advantaged backgrounds were less likely to move from a healthy cognitive state to mild cognitive impairment, or from mild cognitive impairment to dementia, compared to people with a basic education (no higher than high school), who manual or routine occupations, and in the most socio-economically disadvantaged third of the population.

For example, having a post-secondary education level was associated with a 43 percent lower chance of moving from a healthy cognitive state to mild cognitive impairment. Meanwhile, being in the richest third of the population was associated with a 26 percent lower risk of transitioning from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.

Notably, these advantaged individuals were also more likely to recover from mild cognitive impairment and return to a healthy cognitive state, with wealthy individuals 56 percent more likely and those with a post-secondary education level or who worked in manual occupations were 81 percent more likely. is likely to improve, compared to socio-economically disadvantaged individuals.

“Additionally, people with higher education, more intellectually demanding jobs and wealth have better access to healthcare and health-promoting resources such as a nutritious diet, exercise and preventive care – all of which can support cognitive health,” Gireesh said.