Further education is a great way to learn more, advance your career and earn more money – but it seems that these three things aren’t the only benefits you can get from advanced learning. There are also a range of scientifically proven health benefits, all of which can help you to live a longer, healthier life.
Here are three ways further education can be good for your health.
It Can Improve Brain Function
A 2014 study from The National Bureau of Economic Research found that there is a “persistent” link between health and education. This link has been seen in hundreds of countries across the globe over a long time period, and a wide selection of health benefits have been noted.
One of the most significant benefits is that continued education can improve brain function. Population studies have found that age related dementia is reduced in countries with continued education, and it is especially true for anyone who chooses to study a language. A 2012 study found that learning a second language in later life causes changes to the white matter in the brain, which can significantly reduce the risk of dementia or memory problems.
It Can Reduce Coronary Heart Risk
It seems that returning to education as an adult can also help to reduce the risk of coronary heart problems. Several studies confirm this theory, including one from the International Journal of Epidemiology. The study found that women who left school as teenagers with no qualifications but then went on to study as adults had a 0.1% risk of coronary heart problems, which is compared with women who didn’t study as adults who had a risk of 0.14%. The effect was similar for men. However it is important to note that the study only looked at adults who left school as teenagers without qualifications.
It Can Reduce the Chance of Diabetes
Finally it appears that further education can help to reduce the chance of Type 2 Diabetes. A 2015 study from the Academy of Medical Royal College found that adults who follow further education exercises courses are far less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes, even if they are generally inactive outside of college or University.
However this is only the case if you choose to study an athletics course, such as the ones offered at https://www.nec.edu/. So if you study a non-exercise based course, you won’t get these specific health benefits. Thankfully there are lots of athletic courses to choose from, and it is also possible to study both athletics and something else at the same time (so you are stimulating both your body and your mind).
Further education can benefit your life in a variety of ways. It will provide you with new career options, it will give you the chance to earn more money, and it will also benefit your health. This means that you will have a reduced risk of Type Two Diabetes, dementia and coronary heart risk – three illnesses that affect millions of people every year.