ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences2021
Mentally Challenging Occupations Are Associated With More Rapid Cognitive Decline at Later Stages of Cognitive Aging.
Article in The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed.
- ChatGPT-estimated occupational complexity predicts cognitive outcomes and cortical thickness above and beyond socioeconomic status among older adults.GeroScience · 2025Article
- Educational inequalities in dementia-related mortality using a multiple cause of death approach and their contribution to life expectancy differences in Spain.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Physical and mental demands of work associated with dementia risk in later life.The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease · 2025Article
- Association between occupational complexity and cognitive function in older adults from Brazil and Mexico.Neuroscience · 2025Article
- Sex differences in cognitive decline among middle-aged and older adults: a cohort study in Europe.Age and ageing · 2024Article
- Lifetime occupational skill and later-life cognitive function among older adults in the United States, Mexico, India, and South Africa.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2024Article
- Pragmatic approaches to handling practice effects in longitudinal cognitive aging research.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2023Article
- Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Older Adulthood: Are Agricultural Workers at Greater Risk?The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2021Article
- Effect of Mentally Challenging Occupations on Incident Dementia Differs Between African Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites.Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesEngaging in mentally challenging activities is associated with reduced risk for cognitive impairment and dementia; however, its association with rates of cognitive decline has been inconsistent. The aim of this study is to test whether working in mentally challenging occupations is related to rates of cognitive change at later older adulthood.
methodThe sample consisted of 1,520 individuals (baseline mean age = 78.6 ± 5.1, range = 64-100) from the Einstein Aging Study. Occupation information of each participant was collected retrospectively and linked with the substantive complexity of work score from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Cognitive changes in memory, speed, and executive function (EF) domains were represented using two time metrics (i.e., time from retirement, time from study enrollment).
resultsResults from mixed models showed that occupational complexity was associated with significantly faster rates of cognitive decline in speed and EF in the "time from retirement" model but not in the "time from baseline" model. Despite faster cognitive loss, the protective effect of occupational complexity persisted for decades after retirement due to higher initial levels of cognition. DISCUSSION: The result suggests that protective factors for cognitive health may be associated with delayed onset but more rapid cognitive decline afterwards at later stages of cognitive aging.
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