Just like a well-used library helps keep a town’s elderly residents sharp, education can also have a positive effect on cognitive function as people age. In a recent study, researchers examined the connection between education, cognitive performance, and resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) in healthy older adults. They analyzed data from MRI scans of 197 individuals, comparing the cognitive and neural variables of younger adults aged 20-35 with older adults aged 55-80. The results showed that older adults with higher levels of education performed similarly to young adults in language and executive functions, but exhibited wider vocabularies compared to those with lower education. Additionally, the study found significant age- and education-related differences within three brain networks: the Visual-Medial, Dorsal Attentional, and Default Mode networks. The Default Mode network was particularly interesting, as it showed a relationship with memory performance in older adults with higher education. These findings suggest that education plays a crucial role in differentiating cognitive and neural profiles among healthy older adults. Furthermore, the study highlights the potential compensatory mechanisms of the Default Mode network for memory capacities in aging individuals with higher education.
