Occupational activity and cognitive aging: a case-control study based on the maastricht aging study

W. van der Elst; M.P.J. van Boxtel; J. Jolles

doi:10.1080/0361073X.2012.672137

Occupational activity and cognitive aging: a case-control study based on the maastricht aging study

W. van der Elst^*, M.P.J. van Boxtel, J. Jolles

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background/Study Context: Occupational activity is associated with cognitive functioning in older age. The mental exercise hypothesis attributes this association to differences in mental exercise at work. Methods: A case-control design was used to test the mental exercise hypothesis. Primary and secondary school teachers (aged between 25.29 and 79.01 years) and non-teacher controls were matched for level of occupation, educational level, age, and gender. Regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Possible confounders (such as precareer intelligence and depressive status) were taken into account. Results: Teachers had superior verbal fluency and working memory scanning abilities. Conclusion: The results are in line with the mental exercise hypothesis.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	315-329
Number of pages	15
Journal	Experimental Aging Research
Volume	38
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2012.672137
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2012

Keywords

PARTICIPANTS AGED 24-81
NORMATIVE DATA
WORKING-MEMORY
VERBAL FLUENCY
OLD-AGE
EDUCATION
SEX
PERFORMANCE
VALIDITY
YOUNG

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10.1080/0361073X.2012.672137

Cite this

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title = "Occupational activity and cognitive aging: a case-control study based on the maastricht aging study",

abstract = "Background/Study Context: Occupational activity is associated with cognitive functioning in older age. The mental exercise hypothesis attributes this association to differences in mental exercise at work. Methods: A case-control design was used to test the mental exercise hypothesis. Primary and secondary school teachers (aged between 25.29 and 79.01 years) and non-teacher controls were matched for level of occupation, educational level, age, and gender. Regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Possible confounders (such as precareer intelligence and depressive status) were taken into account. Results: Teachers had superior verbal fluency and working memory scanning abilities. Conclusion: The results are in line with the mental exercise hypothesis.",

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author = "{van der Elst}, W. and {van Boxtel}, M.P.J. and J. Jolles",

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AB - Background/Study Context: Occupational activity is associated with cognitive functioning in older age. The mental exercise hypothesis attributes this association to differences in mental exercise at work. Methods: A case-control design was used to test the mental exercise hypothesis. Primary and secondary school teachers (aged between 25.29 and 79.01 years) and non-teacher controls were matched for level of occupation, educational level, age, and gender. Regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Possible confounders (such as precareer intelligence and depressive status) were taken into account. Results: Teachers had superior verbal fluency and working memory scanning abilities. Conclusion: The results are in line with the mental exercise hypothesis.

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KW - NORMATIVE DATA

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KW - YOUNG

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