Norway – The results of a new study have found that work stress is, in fact, not as bad for our brains as we thought, and that mentally challenging jobs can even reduce the risk of developing dementia.
Dementia is a term that refers to a group of diseases that cause slow and gradual deterioration in mental functions, including memory, thinking, and learning ability, and in its final stages can cause death.
The study suggests that the harder your brain works at your job, the less likely you are to develop memory and thinking problems later in life.
The results suggest that jobs that stimulate the mind but avoid repetition, such as teaching, working in public relations, or working as a computer programmer, are beneficial. In contrast, road workers and sanitation workers may be at greater risk.
As part of the study, a team from Oslo University Hospital in Norway analyzed data from 7,000 people in 305 different professions.
They measured the amount of cognitive stimulation the participants experienced while working, and divided them into four groups based on the results.
They also measured the degree of routine manual tasks performed, for example repetitive movements while working, and the degree of repetitive cognitive tasks, such as bookkeeping and filing.
They then recorded the score for non-repetitive analytical tasks, such as engaging in creative thinking, the score for non-routine personal tasks such as coaching, and the score for non-repetitive cognitive tasks involved in professions such as public relations and computer programming.
After age 70, participants completed memory and reasoning tests to assess whether they had mild cognitive impairment.
The analysis revealed that among those with jobs with low cognitive demands, 42% were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.
Among those who worked in jobs with higher cognitive demands, 27% were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.
Overall, the group with the lowest cognitive demands at work was 66% more at risk of developing mild cognitive impairment than the group with the highest cognitive demands.
“We examined the demands of different jobs and found that cognitive stimulation at work during different stages of life, during your 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, was associated with a lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment following the age of 70,” said the study’s lead researcher, Trine Edwin.
She added: “Our findings highlight the value of having a job that requires more complex thinking as a means of preserving memory and thinking into old age.”
The results of the study were published in the journal Neurology.
Source: Daily Mail
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2024-04-21 17:42:34