Complexity of Work and Risk of Alzheimer's Disease: A Population-Based Study of Swedish Twins

Andel, Ross; Crowe, Michael; Pedersen, Nancy L.; Mortimer, James A.; Crimmins, Eileen M.; Johansson, Boo; Gatz, Margaret

doi:10.1093/geronb/60.5.p251

Cited by 216 publications

(220 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…A study of Swedish twins showed that complexity of work, in particular more complex work with people, may reduce the risk of AD (ref. 100 ). A recent neuroimaging study suggested that a high level of complex mental activity across the lifespan was correlated with reduced hippocampal atrophy 101 .…”

Section: Education and Socioeconomic Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological of and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease: A review

Povová

Ambrož²,

Bar³

et al. 2012

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub

112

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Background. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It is a degenerative, incurable and terminal disease. The increasing prevalence of AD is, among other reasons, due to population aging, which is, to a certain extent, seen worldwide. Continuous advances in health care keep increasing life expectancy. Official statistics are likely to significantly underestimate the actual prevalence of AD. Alzheimer's disease represents an important public health problem. Its aetiology is still unknown and for this reason, it is necessary to study all potential risk factors which may contribute to the development of this disease. Methods. We searched original and review articles addressing Alzheimer´s disease using key words Alzheimer's disease, epidemiology, risk factors and prevention. We found and used one hundred and four references. Conclusions. Based on epidemiological studies, genetic studies, neuroimaging methods and neuropathology research, three basic etiological hypotheses of the development of AD have been formulated: genetic, vascular and psychosocial. At present, the level of evidence is insufficient for the etiological role of other factors, such as nutrition, occupational exposure to various substances and inflammation. From the point of view of early diagnosis and application of primary or secondary prevention principles, genetic factors are the most important.

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Section: Education and Socioeconomic Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological of and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease: A review

Povová

Ambrož²,

Bar³

et al. 2012

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub

112

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…4 As with similar population-based studies of cognition, a high level of in-depth job analysis was not available, but previous research supports the use of information derived from DOT ratings as a valid source of occupational data in epidemiologic studies. 26,27 Because data were based on a sample of male World War II veteran twins, there may be some level of cohort effect that limits generalizability, and the current results would be complemented by research on more heterogeneous samples. We also excluded individuals with known or suspected dementia (n = 74) for two main reasons: 1) we believe that using a nondemented sample provides a more conservative test of cognitive outcomes, and 2) the underlying processes of normal aging and dementia are different enough that the inclusion of individuals with dementia may confound interpretation of the associations found among individuals who were nondemented at the time of cognitive assessment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations of job demands and intelligence with cognitive performance among men in late life

Potter

Helms²,

Plassman³

2008

Neurology

139

101

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Objective-To examine the association of job characteristics and intelligence to cognitive status in members of the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Twins Registry of World War II veterans.Methods-Participants (n = 1,036) included individuals with an assessment of intelligence based on Armed Services testing in early adulthood. In late adulthood, these individuals completed the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m) and occupational history as part of an epidemiologic study of aging and dementia. Occupational history was coded to produce a matrix of job characteristics. Based on factor analysis, job characteristics were interpreted as reflecting general intellectual demands (GI), human interaction and communication (HC), physical activity (PA), and visual attention (VA).Results-Based on regression analysis of TICS-m score covarying for age, intelligence, and years of education, higher levels of GI and HC were independently associated with higher TICS-m performance, whereas higher PA was independently associated with lower performance. There was an interaction of GI and intelligence, indicating that individuals at the lower range of intellectual aptitude in early adulthood derived greater cognitive benefit from intellectually demanding work.Conclusions-Intellectually demanding work was associated with greater benefit to cognitive performance in later life independent of related factors like education and intelligence. The fact that individuals with lower intellectual aptitude demonstrated a stronger positive association between work and higher cognitive performance during retirement suggests that behavior may enhance intellectual reserve, perhaps even years after peak intellectual activity.Research has demonstrated that intellectually engaging job demands during adulthood are associated with better cognitive performance in later life, whereas low intellectual demands and manual labor demands are associated with worse cognitive performance, even after controlling for the effects of age and education. 1,2 A study of occupational differences between twin pairs examined both intellectual and physical job demands, and found that higher levels of intellectual job demands were associated with a modest improvement in cognitive status over a 7-year period, whereas higher physical demands were associated with a modest decline over the same interval. 3 Research on the reciprocal relationship between job complexity and cognitive function found that better performance on a measure of intellectual flexibility in early life was associated with more intellectually complex employment, and this ongoing exposure to Copyright © 2008 intellectually complex activity appeared to augment cognitive functioning over time. 4 This finding suggests that job complexity may be a proxy for intelligence, and that it is underlying intelligence, rather than job complexity, that influences cognitive performance in later life. As a result, a key point to address in understanding the beneficial effec...

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“…Occupational codes from the 1980 Swedish Population and Housing Census were matched with the U.S. occupational categories and assigned complexity scores. The matching procedure has been described previously (Andel et al, 2005).…”

Section: Independent Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Occupational Complexity and Socioeconomic Position Related to Psychological Distress 20 Years Later?

et al. 2015

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Objectives: To assess occupational complexity in midlife in relation to psychological distress in older adulthood (69+ years) and explore the role of socioeconomic position. Methods:Baseline data from the Swedish Level of Living Survey and follow-up data from the Swedish Longitudinal Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old were combined, resulting in 20+ years of follow-up. Data were analyzed using ordered logistic regressions.Results: Higher occupational complexity was associated with less psychological distress 20 years later. Higher socioeconomic position yielded the same pattern of results. Socioeconomic position partially accounted for the association between occupational complexity and psychological distress. Discussion:With the social gradient not easily amenable to modification, efforts to increase engagement at work may offer a viable option to attentuate the influence of work environment on psychological distress later in life.

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Complexity of Work and Risk of Alzheimer's Disease: A Population-Based Study of Swedish Twins

Cited by 216 publications

References 50 publications

Epidemiological of and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease: A review

Epidemiological of and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease: A review

Associations of job demands and intelligence with cognitive performance among men in late life

Are Occupational Complexity and Socioeconomic Position Related to Psychological Distress 20 Years Later?

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