Check these 5 jobs causing greater risk of developing dementia

Contrary to conventional thinking, engaging in physically demanding occupations may paradoxically heighten the susceptibility to dementia in later stages of life. For numerous years, it has been widely accepted that consistent physical exertion safeguards the brain against deterioration and prevents the accumulation of detrimental plaque. Nevertheless, a study published in The Lancet has revealed that individuals employed in vocations demanding moderate to high levels of physical activity, such as salespersons in the retail sector, nursing and care assistants, crop farmers, and animal producers, face an elevated risk of developing dementia or experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an initial indication of the disorder.

Individuals who were engaged in occupations characterized as ‘demanding’ during the period spanning from 33 to 65 years of age exhibited a significantly elevated risk of developing dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in their 70s, with a staggering 72 percent increase compared to those who held office-based positions.

The study authors did not provide a definitive reason for the heightened risk; however, they concluded that the strain of physical labor associated with high-demand occupations places significant stress on both the body and mind.

The increased physical demands, coupled with a lack of downtime for recovery, can result in exhaustion and contribute to the gradual deterioration of both physical and mental health. This cumulative effect may have a detrimental impact on cognition.

Furthermore, the occupations examined in the study often involve prolonged periods of standing, manual labor, high levels of stress, an elevated risk of burnout, and demanding schedules with inflexible working hours and inconvenient working days. These types of jobs can also expose individuals to a higher risk of hearing loss and pollution, both of which have negative effects on cognitive function.

Moreover, individuals engaged in physically demanding occupations may also exhibit differences in genetics and socioeconomic status, further complicating the interpretation of cognitive differences. Scientists suggest that individuals with more physically demanding jobs may have had lower cognitive abilities during early life, which could have influenced their educational attainment and subsequent job opportunities.

One plausible explanation for the increased risk is that greater physical demands later in adulthood have previously been associated with a smaller hippocampus and poorer memory performance. The hippocampus is a crucial brain region responsible for memory and learning, and individuals working in demanding jobs have been found to exhibit inferior cognitive performance in later stages of life.

In contrast, occupations that require less physical exertion often offer more opportunities for breaks, a flexible schedule, and can involve intellectually stimulating tasks such as engineering or teaching, which can contribute to enhanced cognitive development over time.

Previous studies on the relationship between occupational physical activity and dementia have been limited, focusing primarily on occupations close to retirement age. This study, however, seeks to gather more comprehensive data by examining physical activity levels throughout a person’s adult life.

It is estimated that approximately seven million individuals in the United States and one million individuals in the United Kingdom are affected by some form of dementia.

Dr. Vegard Skirbekk, the study’s author and a professor of Population and Family Health at Columbia Public Health, explains, “Our findings build upon previous research by adopting a life-course perspective and investigating the impact of occupational physical activity on cognitive impairment. Unlike previous studies that primarily focused on a single measurement of occupation, we examined occupational trajectories from ages 33 to 65, providing a broader understanding of participants’ occupational histories and their relationship to the risk of cognitive impairment in later adulthood.”

The researchers analyzed data from the HUNT4 70+ Study, one of the largest population-based studies on dementia, which collected data from 2017 to 2019 from adults in Norway. The study included 7,005 individuals between the ages of 33 and 65 and assessed the association between occupational physical activity and the risk of dementia in individuals aged 70 and older.