Routine jobs involving little cognitive stimulation are linked to an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment, a new study finds.
- Routine jobs that involve little cognitive stimulation are linked to an increased risk of cognitive impairment and memory problems.
- Conversely, jobs that “work” the brain reduce the risk of having cognitive disorders as we age.
- Further research is needed to identify specific job tasks that are most beneficial for cognitive and memory abilities.
Can occupation play a role in brain health and cognitive functions? A team from Oslo University Hospital asked themselves the question. And the tests she conducted allow us to answer: it seems to depend on the nature of the work. Researchers have highlighted an association between a job that provides little stimulation to the brain and a greater risk of mild cognitive impairment after the age of 70.
Their results were published in the journal NeurologyApril 17, 2024.
Mild cognitive impairment: 66% greater risk for routine, unstimulating jobs
To assess the impact of work on cognitive health, researchers followed 7,000 people and 305 professions. They first assessed the degree of cognitive stimulation that the participants had at work. They determined the number of routine manual tasks (repetitive movement such as factory work), routine cognitive activities (such as accounting and filing) as well as non-routine analytical tasks (activities that involve analyzing information, creative thinking and interpretation of information for others) and non-routine interpersonal (such as coaching).
After the age of 70, volunteers took cognitive and memory tests to assess whether they had mild cognitive impairment. In the group of people who had jobs requiring little thought, 42% were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. In occupations with a high degree of cognitive stimulation, 27% presented the disorder.
“After adjusting for age, gender, education, income and lifestyle factors, the group with the lowest cognitive demands at work had a 66% higher risk of mild cognitive impairment compared to the group with the highest cognitive demands at work”note the authors in their communicated.
Work and memory: a link to be clarified
“We looked at the demands of various jobs and found that cognitive stimulation at work at different stages of life – in your 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s – was linked to a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment after work. age 70”explains study author Dr Trine Holt Edwin from Oslo University Hospital in Norway.
“These findings indicate that education and work that challenges your brain during your career plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of cognitive impairment later in life”he adds.
He points out that the study does not prove that stimulating work prevents mild cognitive impairment, it highlights an association. Further research is needed to confirm the link, but also determine “the specific job tasks that are most beneficial for cognitive and memory maintenance.”
