Education protects the intellect from external influences
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Contact with solvents at work can be associated with a deterioration of cognitive abilities in later life. First of all, this applies to those who have a lower secondary education.
But the more educated intellect does not suffer, even if they are exposed to the same amount of solvents, say scientists from Harvard University (USA).
The study involved 4,134 employees of a French national gas and energy company; most of the subjects were associated with her for life. Scientists evaluated the impact on them of four types of solvents: chlorine, oil, as well as benzene and non-benzene. Tests on thinking respondents passed about 59 years, when 91% of them retired.
58% of subjects had a lower secondary education. Of these, 32% had cognitive impairments (problems with thinking) compared to 16% of the subjects, whose education was better. Among the less educated cognitive disorders, 14% more often affected those who almost constantly dealt with chlorinated and oil solvents. Work with benzene and nonbenzene aromatic solvents increased the risk of cognitive problems by 24% and 36%, respectively.
According to the authors of the work, all this confirms that improving the quality of education in youth can protect cognitive abilities in later life.
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