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Šneidere K, Zdanovskis N, Mondini S, Stepens A. Relationship between lifestyle proxies of cognitive reserve and cortical regions in older adults. Front Psychol 2024; 14:1308434. [PMID: 38250107 PMCID: PMC10797127 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1308434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction With the rapid increase in the population over 65 years old, research on healthy aging has become one of the priorities in the research community, looking for a cost-effective method to prevent or delay symptoms of mild cognitive disorder or dementia. Studies indicate that cognitive reserve theory could be beneficial in this regard. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential relationship between lifestyle socio-behavioral proxies of cognitive reserve and cortical regions in adults with no subjective cognitive decline. Methods Overall, 58 participants, aged 65-85 years, were included in the data analysis (M = 71.83, SD = 5.02, 20.7% male). Cognitive reserve proxies were measured using the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire, while cortical volumes were obtained with the Siemens 1.5 T Avanto MRI scanner and further mapped using the Desikan-Killiany-Tourville (DKT) Atlas. Estimated intracranial volume and age were used as covariates. Results The results indicated that higher occupational complexity was associated with larger cortical volume in the left middle temporal gyrus, the left and right inferior temporal gyrus, and the left inferior parietal lobule, while a combined proxy (the total CRI score) showed a positive relationship with the volume of left middle temporal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule, and pars orbitalis in the right hemisphere. Discussion These results might indicate that more complex occupational activities and overall more intellectually and socially active life-style could contribute to better brain health, especially in regions known to be more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Šneidere
- Department of Health Psychology and Pedagogy, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
- Military Medicine Research and Study Centre, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Nauris Zdanovskis
- Military Medicine Research and Study Centre, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
- Department of Radiology, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
- Department of Radiology, Riga East University Hospital, Riga, Latvia
| | - Sara Mondini
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ainars Stepens
- Military Medicine Research and Study Centre, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
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Soh Y, Eng CW, Mayeda ER, Whitmer RA, Lee C, Peterson RL, Mungas DM, Glymour MM, Gilsanz P. Association of primary lifetime occupational cognitive complexity and cognitive decline in a diverse cohort: Results from the KHANDLE study. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:3926-3935. [PMID: 37057753 PMCID: PMC10517075 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Higher occupational complexity has been linked to favorable cognitive outcomes, but rarely examined in racially and ethnically diverse populations. METHODS In a diverse cohort (n = 1536), linear mixed-effects models estimated associations between main lifetime occupational complexity and domain-specific cognitive decline (z-standardized). Occupational complexity with data, people, and things were classified using the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. RESULTS For occupational complexity with data, highest tertile (vs. lowest) was associated with higher baseline executive function (β = 0.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00-0.22) and slower annual rate of decline (β = 0.03; 95% CI 0.01-0.06), and higher baseline semantic memory (β = 0.14; 95% CI 0.04-0.25). Highest tertile of occupational complexity with people was associated with higher baseline executive function (β = 0.29; 95% CI 0.18-0.40), verbal episodic memory (β = 0.12; 95% CI 0.00-0.24), and semantic memory (β = 0.23; 95% CI 0.12-0.34). DISCUSSION In a diverse cohort, higher occupational complexity is associated with better cognition. Findings should be verified in larger cohorts. HIGHLIGHT Few studies have examined associations of occupational complexity with cognition in diverse populations. Racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately exposed to lower occupational complexity. Occupational complexity with data and people are associated with better cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yenee Soh
- Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Chloe W Eng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth Rose Mayeda
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rachel A Whitmer
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Catherine Lee
- Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, California, USA
- Department of Health Systems Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Rachel L Peterson
- University of Montana, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Dan M Mungas
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - M Maria Glymour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Paola Gilsanz
- Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Coleman ME, Roessler MEH, Peng S, Roth AR, Risacher SL, Saykine AJ, Apostolova LG, Perry BL. Social enrichment on the job: Complex work with people improves episodic memory, promotes brain reserve, and reduces the risk of dementia. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:2655-2665. [PMID: 37037592 PMCID: PMC10272079 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with more complex jobs experience better cognitive function in old age and a lower risk of dementia, yet complexity has multiple dimensions. Drawing on the Social Networks in Alzheimer Disease study, we examine the association between occupational complexity and cognition in a sample of older adults (N = 355). A standard deviation (SD) increase in complex work with people is associated with a 9% to 12% reduction in the probability of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, a 0.14-0.19 SD increase in episodic memory, and a 0.18-0.25 SD increase in brain reserve, defined as the gap (residual) between global cognitive function and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicators of brain atrophy. In contrast, complexity with data or things is rarely associated with cognitive outcomes. We discuss the clinical and methodological implications of these findings, including the need to complement data-centered activities (e.g., Sudoku puzzles) with person-centered interventions that increase social complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max E. Coleman
- Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Meghan E. H. Roessler
- Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
- Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Siyun Peng
- Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Adam R. Roth
- Department of Sociology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Shannon L. Risacher
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Andrew J. Saykine
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Liana G. Apostolova
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Brea L. Perry
- Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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Rydström A, Darin-Mattsson A, Kåreholt I, Ngandu T, Lehtisalo J, Solomon A, Antikainen R, Bäckman L, Hänninen T, Laatikainen T, Levälahti E, Lindström J, Paajanen T, Havulinna S, Peltonen M, Sindi S, Soininen H, Neely AS, Strandberg T, Tuomilehto J, Kivipelto M, Mangialasche F. Occupational complexity and cognition in the FINGER multidomain intervention trial. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:2438-2447. [PMID: 35142055 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lifetime exposure to occupational complexity is linked to late-life cognition, and may affect benefits of preventive interventions. METHODS In the 2-year multidomain Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), we investigated, through post hoc analyses (N = 1026), the association of occupational complexity with cognition. Occupational complexity with data, people, and substantive complexity were classified through the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. RESULTS Higher levels of occupational complexity were associated with better baseline cognition. Measures of occupational complexity had no association with intervention effects on cognition, except for occupational complexity with data, which was associated with the degree of intervention-related gains for executive function. DISCUSSION In older adults at increased risk for dementia, higher occupational complexity is associated with better cognition. The cognitive benefit of the FINGER intervention did not vary significantly among participants with different levels of occupational complexity. These exploratory findings require further testing in larger studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Rydström
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Aging Research Center, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexander Darin-Mattsson
- Aging Research Center, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingemar Kåreholt
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Aging Research Center, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute of Gerontology, School of Health and Welfare, Aging Research Network - Jönköping (ARN-J), Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Tiia Ngandu
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Public Health Solutions, Public Health Promotion Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jenni Lehtisalo
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Public Health Promotion Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Alina Solomon
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,The Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Riitta Antikainen
- Center for Life Course Health Research/Geriatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and Oulu City Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Lars Bäckman
- Aging Research Center, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tuomo Hänninen
- Neurocenter/Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tiina Laatikainen
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Public Health Promotion Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Hospital District of North Karelia, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Esko Levälahti
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Public Health Promotion Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaana Lindström
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Public Health Promotion Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teemu Paajanen
- Work Ability and Working Careers, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Satu Havulinna
- Department of Welfare; Ageing, Disability and Functioning Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Peltonen
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Public Health Solutions, Public Health Promotion Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Shireen Sindi
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,The Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Hilkka Soininen
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Neurocenter/Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Timo Strandberg
- Center for Life Course Health Research/Geriatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,University of Helsinki, Clinicum, and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaakko Tuomilehto
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Public Health Promotion Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,South Ostrobothnia Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland.,Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Diabetes Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Miia Kivipelto
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,The Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Francesca Mangialasche
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Aging Research Center, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Bransby L, Buckley RF, Rosenich E, Franks KH, Yassi N, Maruff P, Pase MP, Lim YY. The relationship between cognitive engagement and better memory in midlife. Alzheimers Dement (Amst) 2022; 14:e12278. [PMID: 35155733 PMCID: PMC8828986 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Engagement in cognitively stimulating work and activities may slow cognitive decline and dementia. We examined the individual and combined associations of four cognitive engagement indices (educational attainment, occupational complexity, social engagement, and cognitively stimulating leisure activities) with objective and subjective cognition. METHODS Middle-aged adults (n = 1864) enrolled in the Healthy Brain Project completed the Cogstate Brief Battery, the Cognitive Function Instrument, and self-report questionnaires of cognitive engagement. RESULTS Educational attainment and leisure activity engagement were individually associated with memory performance. Participants were classified based on whether they rated highly in zero to four cognitive engagement indices. Compared to participants with no indices, participants with two or more indices performed moderately better on memory. DISCUSSION Results suggest that greater variety of cognitive engagement across different areas of life is related to better memory in midlife. Possible explanation for this relationship may be increased opportunity for enhancing cognitive reserve, but further investigations are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Bransby
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health School of Psychological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Rachel F Buckley
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
- Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USA
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment Department of Neurology Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Emily Rosenich
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health School of Psychological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Katherine H Franks
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health School of Psychological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Nawaf Yassi
- Department of Medicine and Neurology Melbourne Brain Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
- Population Health and Immunity Division The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Paul Maruff
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Parkville Victoria Australia
- Cogstate Ltd. Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Matthew P Pase
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health School of Psychological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Yen Ying Lim
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health School of Psychological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
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Hyun J, Hall CB, Katz MJ, Derby CA, Lipnicki DM, Crawford JD, Guaita A, Vaccaro R, Davin A, Kim KW, Han JW, Bae JB, Röhr S, Riedel-Heller S, Ganguli M, Jacobsen E, Hughes TF, Brodaty H, Kochan NA, Trollor J, Lobo A, Santabarbara J, Lopez-Anton R, Sachdev PS, Lipton RB. Education, Occupational Complexity, and Incident Dementia: A COSMIC Collaborative Cohort Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 85:179-196. [PMID: 34776437 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Education and occupational complexity are main sources of mental engagement during early life and adulthood respectively, but research findings are not conclusive regarding protective effects of these factors against late-life dementia. OBJECTIVE This project aimed to examine the unique contributions of education and occupational complexity to incident dementia, and to assess the mediating effects of occupational complexity on the association between education and dementia across diverse cohorts. METHOD We used data from 10,195 participants (median baseline age = 74.1, range = 58∼103), representing 9 international datasets from 6 countries over 4 continents. Using a coordinated analysis approach, the accelerated failure time model was applied to each dataset, followed by meta-analysis. In addition, causal mediation analyses were performed. RESULT The meta-analytic results indicated that both education and occupational complexity were independently associated with increased dementia-free survival time, with 28%of the effect of education mediated by occupational complexity. There was evidence of threshold effects for education, with increased dementia-free survival time associated with 'high school completion' or 'above high school' compared to 'middle school completion or below'. CONCLUSION Using datasets from a wide range of geographical regions, we found that both early life education and adulthood occupational complexity were independently predictive of dementia. Education and occupational experiences occur during early life and adulthood respectively, and dementia prevention efforts could thus be made at different stages of the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinshil Hyun
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, AlbertEinstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Charles B Hall
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, AlbertEinstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.,Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Mindy J Katz
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, AlbertEinstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Carol A Derby
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, AlbertEinstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Darren M Lipnicki
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of NewSouth Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John D Crawford
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of NewSouth Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Ki Woong Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul NationalUniversity Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Ji Won Han
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong Bin Bae
- Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, SeoulNational University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Susanne Röhr
- Instituteof Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,GlobalBrain Health Institute (GBHI), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Steffi Riedel-Heller
- Instituteof Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Henry Brodaty
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of NewSouth Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicole A Kochan
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of NewSouth Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Julian Trollor
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of NewSouth Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Developmental DisabilityNeuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry, University of New SouthWales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Antonio Lobo
- Instituto de Investigación SanitariaAragón, Zaragoza, Spain.,Centro deInvestigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Ministry ofScience and Innovation, Spain.,Department ofMedicine and Psychiatry, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Javier Santabarbara
- Instituto de Investigación SanitariaAragón, Zaragoza, Spain.,Centro deInvestigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Ministry ofScience and Innovation, Spain.,Department of Preventive Medicine and PublicHealth, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Raul Lopez-Anton
- Instituto de Investigación SanitariaAragón, Zaragoza, Spain.,Centro deInvestigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Ministry ofScience and Innovation, Spain.,Department of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of NewSouth Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard B Lipton
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, AlbertEinstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.,Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES The theory of "Cognitive Reserve" assumes that premorbid factors such as high educational and occupational attainment may enable a better way of coping with brain damage. It has been suggested that more stimulating lifestyles, including more complex work environments, may provide a buffer against cognitive decline in later life. This study aimed to investigate the association between occupational history and cognitive decline in a large cohort of Italian oldest-old. METHODS 392 individuals (266 women/126 men, mean age 93 ± 3 years) enrolled in the "Mugello study" provided information about their work history. Jobs were classified in nine categories, according to the level of expertise required to perform them, as suggested by the Italian National Institute for Statistics (ISTAT). In addition, socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, level of independence, depression, and cognitive status were assessed. The presence of dementia was established based on cognitive status and independence in performing four selected instrumental activities of daily living (ability to manage telephone, transportation, medications, and budget). RESULTS Neither work complexity (p = 0.995) nor work duration (p = 0.701) showed a significant effect on the likelihood of presenting a lower cognitive profile or developing dementia (p = 0.385 and p = 0.096, for work complexity and work duration, respectively). CONCLUSION In the observed sample of oldest-old individuals, cognitive decline did not seem to be influenced by cognitive reserve as assessed through the evaluation of cognitive status and level of independence. It is conceivable that in this population, the decline of the brain reserve has a preponderant role in the definition of the cognitive profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahia Hakiki
- Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, IRCSS, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Emilio Portaccio
- SOC Neurologia, Ospedale San Giovanni di Dio, AUSL Toscana Centro, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Sofi
- Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, IRCSS, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Nutrition Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudio Macchi
- Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, IRCSS, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Sörman DE, Hansson P, Pritschke I, Ljungberg JK. Complexity of Primary Lifetime Occupation and Cognitive Processing. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1861. [PMID: 31496970 PMCID: PMC6712086 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Today, there are a lack of studies focusing on the relationship between occupational complexity and executive functioning. This is noteworthy since executive functions are core aspects of cognitive processing. The present study was aimed to investigate if three occupational complexity factors (with data, people, and things) of main lifetime occupation were related to performance in executive tasks (inhibition, switching, updating). We analyzed cross-sectional data that were available for 225 participants aged 50-75 years. Results from structural equation models showed that higher complexity levels of working with data were related to lower error rates in the updating component of cognitive control. In addition, higher rates of complexity working with people was associated with lower error rates in task-switching, which also persisted after adjustment of fluid intelligence. Complexity with things, however, was not related to performance in the executive tasks. Future studies would benefit from a longitudinal design to investigate if the results from this study also hold in the long term and to further investigate the directionality between factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jessica Körning Ljungberg
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Division of Human Work Science, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
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Kremen WS, Beck A, Elman JA, Gustavson DE, Reynolds CA, Tu XM, Sanderson-Cimino ME, Panizzon MS, Vuoksimaa E, Toomey R, Fennema-Notestine C, Hagler DJ Jr, Fang B, Dale AM, Lyons MJ, Franz CE. Influence of young adult cognitive ability and additional education on later-life cognition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:2021-6. [PMID: 30670647 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1811537116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
How and when education improves cognitive capacity is an issue of profound societal importance. Education and later-life education-related factors, such as occupational complexity and engagement in cognitive-intellectual activities, are frequently considered indices of cognitive reserve, but whether their effects are truly causal remains unclear. In this study, after accounting for general cognitive ability (GCA) at an average age of 20 y, additional education, occupational complexity, or engagement in cognitive-intellectual activities accounted for little variance in late midlife cognitive functioning in men age 56-66 (n = 1009). Age 20 GCA accounted for 40% of variance in the same measure in late midlife and approximately 10% of variance in each of seven cognitive domains. The other factors each accounted for <1% of the variance in cognitive outcomes. The impact of these other factors likely reflects reverse causation-namely, downstream effects of early adult GCA. Supporting that idea, age 20 GCA, but not education, was associated with late midlife cortical surface area (n = 367). In our view, the most parsimonious explanation of our results, a meta-analysis of the impact of education, and epidemiologic studies of the Flynn effect is that intellectual capacity gains due to education plateau in late adolescence/early adulthood. Longitudinal studies with multiple cognitive assessments before completion of education would be needed to confirm this speculation. If cognitive gains reach an asymptote by early adulthood, then strengthening cognitive reserve and reducing later-life cognitive decline and dementia risk may really begin with improving educational quality and access in childhood and adolescence.
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