Recent studies suggest that where you go to college can shape more than your career. It may also affect your long-term brain health.
A study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that Black adults who attended historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, had better memory and cognitive function later in life than those who attended predominantly white institutions.
Researchers say the findings point to the effectiveness of supportive learning environments. They add that reducing stress tied to discrimination during early adulthood may help protect cognitive health over time.
The study analyzed nearly 2,000 Black adults who attended college between 1940 and 1980. About 35 percent of participants went to HBCUs.
Around age 62 — the average age in the study — people who attended HBCUs showed stronger memory and cognitive performance than those who attended predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Researchers found that differences in educational environment, especially during segregation and early integration, may have played a role.
The study looked at how exposure to what it called “state-sanctioned racialized education policies” shaped long-term outcomes. Those experiences, researchers said, may influence stress levels, access to support systems and overall health.
“Participants who attended HBCUs were more likely, for example, to have mothers or female caregivers that had a college education,” Dr. Marilyn Thomas, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, told The Guardian.
“They were also more likely to have reported being shown affection when they were growing up, love and affection.”
Researchers have long linked chronic stress, including racism, to worse health outcomes. Over time, repeated stress can affect the body’s systems, including those tied to aging and brain health.
“It didn’t matter what form of racism I was looking at … exposure to racism was associated with worse health,” Thomas said, according to The Guardian.
The study adds to growing evidence that social and environmental factors shape health in lasting ways. While individual choices matter, researchers say broader conditions like education, community and exposure to stress all play a role. They also note that the findings show a strong correlation, not causation, meaning the study cannot prove that any single factor directly leads to better or worse sleep.
For Black Americans in particular, the findings highlight how culturally supportive spaces may help counter some of the long-term effects of systemic inequality.
Researchers caution that more study is needed to fully understand the link between education and cognitive aging. Still, the results suggest that the benefits of HBCUs may extend far beyond the classroom, influencing health and quality of life decades later.
HBCUs have historically provided spaces where Black students can learn in culturally affirming environments. Experts say that a sense of belonging can reduce stress and support both academic and personal development.
During the mid-20th century, when many of the study’s participants were in school, segregation and discrimination limited access to many colleges. HBCUs often served as critical institutions for education, mentorship and community.
Researchers suggest that these environments may serve as protective factors. Lower exposure to discrimination in daily campus life, combined with stronger social support, may help reduce long-term strain on the body and brain.
Beyond academics, many HBCU graduates describe a strong sense of identity and pride tied to their schools. Alumni networks are often tight-knit, with graduates quick to support and defend their institutions.
That connection can extend well beyond graduation. From homecoming traditions to professional networks, HBCU alumni often maintain lifelong ties that reinforce community and a sense of belonging.
Health experts say that kind of social connection can also play a role in overall well-being. Strong relationships and a sense of purpose are linked to better mental health and, in some cases, improved physical health outcomes.
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