The research is clear that more education is linked to lower dementia risk, but the mechanics behind that relationship are far more interesting and complicated than the headline suggests. This episode breaks down what cognitive reserve really means, why the protection is not what most people think it is, and what the data actually shows when you separate bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral attainment. By the end, you will understand both why schooling matters for your aging brain and why a PhD is not a guarantee of anything.