Education and sauna use linked to health benefits in new studies

New research suggests that extended schooling may provide long-term protection against Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. A study conducted by researchers from the University of Southern California, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Michigan analyzed data from over 100,000 individuals via the UK Biobank. By examining the impact of a 1972 British school reform that raised the mandatory school age from 15 to 16, scientists identified a causal link between additional years of education and lower cumulative Alzheimer’s incidence, even among those with a high genetic risk.

In a separate study from Finland, researchers found that sauna sessions can temporarily increase the concentration of white blood cells in the bloodstream. The study, which observed 51 adults, showed that 30 minutes of heat exposure at approximately 73 degrees Celsius led to an increase in various immune cells. Experts suggest this reaction is driven by heat stress, which causes blood vessels to dilate, increases heart rate, and releases adrenaline, thereby accelerating blood flow and mobilizing immune cells.