A recent study led by Rutgers Health researcher Min Hee Kim reveals that historical educational policies can have significant long-term benefits on cognitive performance and reduce dementia risk.

Published in the journal Epidemiology, the research analyzed how variations in state schooling mandates influenced educational attainment and cognitive outcomes among older adults.

The study examined data from over 20,000 older Black and white adults, focusing on the effects of state education policies on cognitive performance later in life.

Findings indicate that longer years of education, resulting from mandatory schooling laws, are associated with improved memory and verbal fluency, which are critical factors in dementia risk.

This research supports previous findings that residing in states with high-quality education during childhood correlates with a lower risk of dementia in later life.

Kim emphasized the importance of enhancing both the quantity and quality of education, suggesting that such improvements could yield lasting cognitive benefits.

She noted that investing in education is vital for health equity, particularly for Black Americans who have historically faced educational disadvantages.

The study also highlights significant gaps in research regarding educational gains across racial groups, especially between Black and white older adults, due to inconsistent enforcement of schooling mandates.

It specifically addresses the impact of past educational policies on Black Americans, who have often encountered systemic racial segregation and discrimination in education.

Overall, the research underscores the link between education and improved cognitive function, life expectancy, and a delayed onset of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Coauthors of the study include researchers from various institutions, such as Montclair State University and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.