The higher the education, the less Alzheimer's

Vietnam has more than 9 million people with dementia whose typical form is Alzheimer's. The incidence of this disease decreases with education.

A study by the Geriatric Institute showed that the rate of dementia in the elderly in Vietnam is approximately 5%, higher than the general rate of the world (nearly 4%). Women are more susceptible to this disease than men. However, the higher the level of education, the lower the decline in dementia. The higher the age, the greater the rate of dementia, for example, at age 85 or older, one person in 6 has it.

However, according to Dr. Pham Thang, Director of Geriatric Institute, the higher the education, the lower the risk of disease. Specifically in the study, the rate of dementia in people who are literate is 10.4%, 5 times higher than those who graduated from high school or above.

Mr. Thang said the dementia's expression is memory and cognitive impairment, to the extent that it interferes with daily activities. The risk of disease is highest in people who smoke, drink alcohol, have hypertension, diabetes or history of traumatic brain injury, stroke, Parkinson's.

Hai Ha