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Use It Or Lose It (Brain) Gets More Support for
Preventing Dementia
Nov. 18, 2004 – Research is producing mounting
evidence that people are less likely to get dementia if they keep their
brains active. The latest study of older people says those that had
challenging jobs of responsibility seemed to have protection from the
development of dementia.
The researchers base their findings on 221 patients
with dementia (mostly Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia) and 229
healthy people from the same area, randomly selected from census
registers.
The patients, who were all drawn from 23 family
doctor practices in one area between 1998 and 2000, were aged between 55
and 99. The comparison group were aged between 60 and 94.
All participants were asked either directly
(comparison group) or via relatives (patients) about their medical
history and lifestyle, including marital status and social support
network.
Information was also obtained on full employment
history, with "psychosocial" job elements assigned, using a validated
scoring system.
The job elements included the degree of challenge;
social climate (information flow, openness of communication); degree of
control (possibilities for independence and influence on working pace);
workload; perceived risks for error; social demands (communication with
people other than work colleagues); and supervisory support.
The results were then analysed and influential
factors, such as age, history of parental dementia, educational level,
accounted for.
People who had worked in jobs that had been
intellectually demanding, had afforded scope for a high degree of
control, and had required socializing with people other than immediate
work colleagues were less likely to have dementia.
The authors conclude that job demands have a role
in the development of dementia.
The research was published in Occupational and
Environmental Medicine.
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