Can psychosocial work conditions protect against age-related cognitive decline? Results from a systematic review

Abstract

According to the use it or lose it hypothesis, intellectually stimulating activities postpone age-related cognitive decline. A previous systematic review concluded that a high level of mental work demands and job control protected against cognitive decline. However, it did not distinguish between outcomes that were measured as cognitive function at one point in time or as cognitive decline. Our study aimed to systematically review which psychosocial working conditions were prospectively associated with high levels of cognitive function and/or changes in cognitive function over time. Articles were identified by a systematic literature search (MEDLINE, Web of Science (WOS), PsycNET, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)). We included only studies with longitudinal designs examining the impact of psychosocial work conditions on outcomes defined as cognitive function or changes in cognitive function. Two independent reviewers compared title-abstract screenings, full-text screenings and quality assessment ratings. Eleven studies were included in the final synthesis and showed that high levels of mental work demands, occupational complexity or job control at one point in time were prospectively associated with higher levels of cognitive function in midlife or late life. However, the evidence to clarify whether these psychosocial factors also affected cognitive decline was insufficient, conflicting or weak. It remains speculative whether job control, job demands or occupational complexity can protect against cognitive decline. Future studies using methodological advancements can reveal whether workers gain more cognitive reserve in midlife and late life than the available evidence currently suggests. The public health implications of a previous review should thereby be redefined accordingly.

Community engagement and dementia risk: time-to-event analyses from a national cohort study

“…This could imply that social interactions do explain whatever association might exist between community group engagement and dementia risk. Another possible explanation for why we did not see such strong results for community group engagement is that there can be an overlap with activities not carried out for leisure but rather for work, which could lead to feelings of stress or burden 35. Indeed, our index included attendance at socially responsible groups such as political groups, tenant’s associations and neighbourhood watch groups alongside more pleasure-oriented groups.…”

Which type of social activities may reduce cognitive decline in the elderly?: a longitudinal population-based study

“…Studies has indicated that intellectually challenging activities and active interpersonal exchanges can increase or maintain cognitive reserve, allowing individuals to cope longer before cognitive impairment is manifested [ 42 ], and produce beneficial effects on cognition even in old age [ 13 ]. Studies of cognitive reserve suggest that there are individual differences in the ability to cope with the brain pathologic changes [ 43 , 44 ] and cognitive reserve may be improved by exposure to an enriched environment such as social interaction or mentally challenging activity, physical activity, education [ 45 ], and may buffer against age-related CD [ 46 ]. Biological mechanisms related to the vascular hypothesis could also partially explain our findings.…”

Working Life Psychosocial Conditions in Relation to Late-Life Cognitive Decline: A Population-Based Cohort Study

“…Some epidemiological studies have tentatively related psychosocial working conditions to late-life cognition and dementia risk (62,63), but the evidence is still limited. To date, low job control, by itself or in combination with either high or low job demands (i.e., high job strain or passive job), has been linked to worse cognitive function (64)(65)(66)(67).…”