A 1972 law that kept British teens in school a year longer cut dementia diagnoses, a study finds

The law raised the minimum school-leaving age in England, Wales and Scotland from 15 to 16. It lifted the number of students staying in school until 16 by 14 per cent.

Drop in dementia incidence

0.88 %

Researchers who followed more than 100,000 people in the UK Biobank found the extra year reduced dementia incidence over the next 50 years by 0.88%.

The effect was strongest for people with genetic variants that raise Alzheimer's risk. The authors urge caution because diagnoses were counted only up to age 65.