Words Laura Potter. Photograph Stocksy
It’s long been assumed that the more you earn, the longer you live, but new Austrian research suggests that a far more important factor when it comes to living a long and healthy life is your education. Researchers looked at data from 174 countries between 1970 and 2015 and compared the impact of income versus education on health and life expectancy.
Lo and behold, education was a much better predictor. The explanation? Better education leads to improved cognition, which helps people to make better choices for their health. Plenty of research has also shown that learning new skills – from a language to a musical instrument to a skill like photography or a new sport – is beneficial for our brains. Stay curious, keep learning and enjoy the lifelong benefits!