Scientists at Edith Cowan University have discovered that a good education can protect a person from a variety of gut ailments, some of which increase the risk of dementia. Research published International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
A large-scale study analyzed the genetic information of more than 766,000 people. Scientists have found that higher levels of education and cognitive function reduce the risk of intestinal disorders.
The study also showed that the gut can also affect the brain. For example, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been associated with cognitive decline: intelligence and attention. The results confirm a recent study that reported an increased incidence of dementia in GERD. The discovery will help identify more cases of dementia in the early stages.
Interestingly, with the exception of inflammatory bowel disease, higher levels of education and cognitive function were found to be protective against bowel disorders in all disorders examined in the study.
At the same time, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) did not increase the risk of cognitive impairment. Scientists suggest that some Alzheimer’s risk genes may protect against IBD and vice versa.