New research: reading and learning languages ​​reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s

The researchers examined the level of cognitive enrichment of each participant in three life stages: childhood and youth, midlife and old age. At the young age, variables such as the frequency of reading in childhood, reading books, availability of newspapers and atlases at home and studying a foreign language for more than five years were examined. In mid-life, the level of income, the existence of cultural resources at home such as subscriptions to newspapers and dictionaries, as well as the frequency of visits to museums and libraries were examined. At an older age, the frequency of reading, writing and thinking games was examined, along with income from allowances and pensions.

The comparison between the top decile of the level of cognitive enrichment and the bottom decile revealed notable differences. Among those with the highest level, 21% developed Alzheimer’s during the follow-up years. In contrast, among those with the lowest level, 34% developed the disease. After adjusting for factors such as age, gender and education, it was found that a high level of enrichment was associated with a 38% decrease in the risk of Alzheimer’s and a 36% decrease in the risk of mild cognitive impairment.

Not only the rate of the disease was different, but also the age of onset. Participants with a high level of enrichment developed Alzheimer’s at an average age of 94, compared to age 88 in the low enrichment group, a delay of more than five years. In mild cognitive impairment, an even greater delay was recorded, an average age of 85 compared to 78, a difference of seven years.

In another analysis of participants who died during the study and underwent autopsy after death, it was found that those who were rated at a high level of enrichment demonstrated better memory and thinking abilities before their death and slower deterioration, despite pathological changes typical of Alzheimer’s in the brain.

However, the researchers emphasize that this is an observational study. It indicates a connection between continuous intellectual activity and a decrease in risk, but does not prove that reading or learning a language is the direct cause of the risk reduction. Another limitation is that participants were asked to report on childhood and midlife experiences in adulthood, which may be affected by memory errors.

According to estimates, over 150,000 dementia patients live in Israel today. Most of them suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common and severe form of dementia. The disease manifests itself in the accumulation of proteins in the brain, beta amyloid and tau, which gradually destroy the nerve cells and cause a deterioration in cognitive functions.

This brutal mechanism leads to a continuous decline in memory, concentration, language, learning and the performance of simple actions. Alzheimer’s disease is considered an incurable degenerative disease. There are drugs that can delay its progress a little, but it cannot be cured.

The diagnosis of the disease is usually carried out by neurologists, and includes an investigation of the medical history, a description of the symptoms, oral and written cognitive tests, blood tests, brain imaging and sometimes also a spinal fluid test that tests the levels of the characteristic proteins.

The symptoms of dementia appear in stages, and develop gradually: in the first stage, a decrease in short-term memory appears, a tendency to repeat questions or statements, confusion, difficulty in retrieving names of people or places, and sometimes mood changes such as anxiety or depression. Spatial orientation may also be affected, especially in less familiar environments.

Later, in the second stage of the disease, the situation deteriorates: the patient no longer recognizes friends or family members, has difficulty performing daily activities such as bathing or brushing teeth, and symptoms of confusion, worry, insomnia and hallucinations appear. The daily and social conduct is reduced, and the patient shows less interest in the environment.

In the third, advanced and final stage, all functions are impaired: the patient does not recognize any of his family members, does not understand words, and is unable to perform basic actions such as eating, dressing or controlling the braces. Severe behavioral symptoms may also appear, such as suspicion, delusions and tantrums.