4 ms·
An extremely simple hypothesis: The world of today is more cognitively demanding. To take a very simple empirical example, 7% of 25 year olds had a college degr
by ipnon 1y ago
An extremely simple hypothesis: The world of today is more cognitively demanding. To take a very simple empirical example, 7% of 25 year olds had a college degree in 1960, 36% in 2020! You have to wonder what the neuroprotective effects are of being able to write an essay, analyze a novel, perform a chemical experiment, prove a theorem, whatever, over a lifetime. But it's well-established that the brain, like all other organs of the body, is "use it or lose it."
- raducu 1y agoAlso being bilingual delays alzheimers by 7 years, so there must be something to dementia also.
- esperent 1y ago4.7 years. Also, no evidence that it reduces the risk of getting it, the benefit is purely delayed onset. Still, I'd take an extra 5 years of working brain, if only I could learn a second language (does Python count?). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7089902/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7089902/