Japanese study: Moving up the social ladder reduces dementia risk

According to a study conducted in Japan, the greatest protective effect against dementia was observed in people who were born into low-income households with very little social support but who gained wealth and social status throughout their lives.

Conversely, those who remained stuck on the lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder, those who moved down from a higher position, and those who remained in the middle class were found to have a higher probability of developing dementia.

In an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open, scientists suggest that moving up the social ladder may make the brain more resilient to stress, which is considered a major risk factor for dementia.

The reason for this may be that stressful situations require a person to learn more, which exercises the brain, making it stronger and more resistant to the changes that occur with aging.

Lead author Hiroyasu Iso, an epidemiologist and director of the Institute for Global Health Policy Research (iGHP), stated that scientists have long known that the more social support a person has, the lower their likelihood of developing dementia.

For example, a study conducted in France showed that people who are lonely in old age are 30 percent more likely to develop dementia than those with a rich social life.

ALL DATA TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

Dr. Iso's study used data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), which monitored the living conditions of approximately 200,000 people aged 65 and over in Japan between 2010 and 2016 to determine which factors helped them live healthier and longer lives.

They categorized people according to their average income, education levels, and reported social lives. The lowest income was an average of 7,217 dollars or less per year, while the highest income was 38,690 dollars.

People in the lower ranks were generally frail, more likely to live alone, more likely to suffer from mental illness, and less likely to have a master's degree.

It was also determined that they had less social support at home, fewer friends nearby, and were more likely to live in rural areas.

The highest socioeconomic groups included people who were more educated, more likely to exercise and socialize, and lived in more urban areas. They also reported feeling that they received social support at home and had close friends.