A new study out of Japan suggests that being socially and economically “upwardly mobile” throughout your life may benefit your brain health and reduce the risk of developing dementia.
The research, led by Ryoto Sakaniwa, a professor of social medicine at Osaka University, analyzed data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, which followed nearly 9,200 participants aged 65 and over from 2010 to 2016. The study looked at changes in each participant’s socioeconomic status over their lifetime and compared it to national data on nursing care for dementia diagnoses.
The findings revealed that individuals who experienced upward social and financial mobility were less likely to develop dementia or did so later in life compared to those whose socioeconomic status remained stable or declined. Factors such as lifestyle, illnesses, and social influences were all found to play a role in the link between social mobility and dementia risk.
Sakaniwa emphasized the importance of improving socioeconomic conditions as a potential key to dementia prevention and promoting healthier aging. The study’s results highlight the significance of social and economic factors in brain health and suggest that striving for upward mobility throughout life could have long-term benefits for cognitive health.
The research provides valuable insights into the relationship between socioeconomic status and dementia risk, offering new avenues for future research and potential interventions to support brain health in aging populations.