Can Education Protect Your Brain from Alzheimer’s?

A fascinating study using Mendelian randomization sheds light on how modifiable lifestyle factors may influence the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. By analyzing 24 exposures—including smoking, coffee intake, alcohol use, and vitamin D levels—researchers discovered that education stood out as a protective factor. Specifically, each additional year of schooling reduced Alzheimer’s risk by 11%, while a college degree slashed the risk by 26%.

Other notable (but less definitive) findings suggested that smoking may increase risk, and a moderate increase in vitamin D might reduce it. Surprisingly, no causal links were found between Alzheimer’s and alcohol, cholesterol, or diabetes biomarkers. However, the technique has limitations, such as pleiotropy, where genes influence multiple traits, potentially muddying the results.

Takeaway: Education may not just open doors—it may also protect your brain.

Source: Larsson SC et al. "Modifiable pathways in Alzheimer’s disease: Mendelian randomization analysis." BMJ, 2017. PMID: 29212772