Association of mental demands in the workplace with cognitive function in older adults at increased risk for dementia

BMC Geriatrics

Marina Weißenborn¹  David Czock¹  Walter E. Haefeli¹  Christian Brettschneider²  Hans-Helmut König²  Jochen René Thyrian³  Wolfgang Hoffmann³  Birgitt Wiese⁴  Anke Oey⁴  Franziska-Antonia Zora Samos⁵  Thomas Frese⁵  Alexander Bauer⁵  Hanna Kaduszkiewicz⁶  Juliane Döhring⁶  Isabel Zöllinger⁷  Flora Kühne⁷  Jochen Gensichen⁷  Andrea E. Zülke⁸  Melanie Luppa⁸  Steffi G. Riedel-Heller⁸  Susanne Röhr⁹ 

[1] Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany;Department of Health Economics and Health Service Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany;Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), site Rostock/ Greifswald, 17489, Greifswald, Germany;Institute of Community Medicine, Dept. of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, 17487, Greifswald, Germany;Institute for General Practice, Work Group Medical Statistics and IT-Infrastructure, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany;Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany;Institute of General Practice, University of Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany;Institute of General Practice/Family Medicine, University Hospital of LMU Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany;Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany;Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany;Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40, Dublin, Ireland;

关键词: Mental demands;    Cognition;    Cognitive decline;    Dementia;    Risk factors;    Workplace;    Occupation;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-021-02653-5

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

ObjectivesGrowing evidence suggests a protective effect of high mental demands at work on cognitive function in later life. However, evidence on corresponding associations in older adults at increased risk for dementia is currently lacking. This study investigates the association between mental demands at work and cognitive functioning in the population of the AgeWell.de-trial.MethodsCross-sectional investigation of the association between global cognitive functioning (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and mental demands at work in older individuals at increased risk for dementia (Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE)score ≥ 9; n = 941, age: 60–77 years). Occupational information was matched to Occupational Information Network (O*NET)-descriptors. Associations between cognitive function and O*NET-indices executive, verbal and novelty were investigated using generalized linear models.ResultsHigher values of index verbal (b = .69, p = .002) were associated with better cognitive function when adjusting for covariates. No association was observed for indices executive (b = .37, p = .062) and novelty (b = .45, p = .119). Higher education, younger age, and employment were linked to better cognitive function, while preexisting medical conditions did not change the associations. Higher levels of depressive symptomatology were associated with worse cognitive function.ConclusionsHigher levels of verbal demands at work were associated with better cognitive function for older adults with increased dementia risk. This suggests an advantage for older persons in jobs with high mental demands even after retirement and despite prevalent risk factors. Longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these results and evaluate the potential of workplaces to prevent cognitive decline through increased mental demands.

【 授权许可】

CC BY