A recent study suggests that the risk of developing dementia can vary depending on different occupations. The findings indicate that individuals who engage in jobs that stimulate the brain more tend to have better memory and brain function in old age compared to those who don’t.
According to the New York Post and The Guardian, on the 18th (GMT), a research team from the University of Oslo in Norway conducted a study to explore the correlation between job-related tasks and brain usage. The study involved 7,000 people across 305 various occupations and was published in the latest issue of Neurology, a medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The research team first categorized jobs from those with the least mental strain to those with the most. They later then examined the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. Jobs with less mental strain were defined as those involving ‘mechanical and repetitive tasks.’
The results showed that individuals in occupations with the least mental strain had a 31% higher risk of dementia after the age of 70 compared to those in jobs with the most mental strain. The risk of mild cognitive impairment was also 66% higher. When looking at the diagnosis rate for mild cognitive impairment, 42% were from occupations with the least mental strain, while 27% were from jobs with the most.
Dr. Trine Edwin from the University of Oslo stated, “Our investigation of the job requirements of various occupations revealed that workplace cognitive stimulation during various stages of life (30s, 40s, 50s, 60s) is associated with a decreased risk of mild cognitive impairment (a pre-dementia stage) after the age of 70.” She added, “It’s important to use your brain at work and learn new things using your brain.”
The incidence of dementia was lowest among teachers and professors. These occupations carry a relatively high mental strain and involve analyzing and interpreting information so others can understand. On the other hand, those working in road construction, cleaning, building management, and postal delivery had higher rates of dementia. These occupations require repetitive manual labor and thus carry less mental strain.
Dr. Edwin stated, “These results demonstrate that education and engaging in brain-intensive tasks at work play an important role in reducing the risk of cognitive impairment later in life.” However, she added, “We cannot generalize this as cognitive demands vary from person to person, and even within the same occupation, there can be differences from person to person.” She also pointed out that this study only shows correlation, not causation.
She said, “Further research is needed to accurately identify the job-related tasks that most effectively help maintain cognitive abilities, such as reasoning and memory, which require cognitive challenges.”
A separate study conducted in 2016 revealed that occupations such as managers, teachers, lawyers, social workers, engineers, physicists, doctors, dentists, and pharmacists help maintain healthy brain function.
Another study published last year in the international academic journal ‘The Lancet’ included salespersons (retail and others), nursing assistants, farmers, and livestock breeders as the top five occupations with the highest risk of developing dementia.
