A study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine has found that people who work in jobs with high levels of physical and mental demands are at a 55% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those in less demanding jobs.

The Study

The study, which collected data from 117,000 French adults over a period of eight years, looked at the link between work-related physical and mental demands and the risk of developing dementia.

The participants were aged between 45 and 65 years old at the start of the study and had no history of dementia.

The research team assessed the physical demands of participants’ jobs based on factors such as the amount of standing, walking, and heavy lifting involved.

They also looked at the levels of mental demand, which took into account factors such as working quickly, repetitive tasks, and low autonomy. The participants were then grouped into four categories based on the combination of their physical and mental job demands.

The Findings

The results showed that participants in jobs with high physical demands and low cognitive demands had a slightly increased risk of dementia, but this was not statistically significant.

However, those in jobs with high cognitive demands and low physical demands had a lower risk of dementia compared to those in physically demanding but cognitively unstimulating jobs.

The highest risk of dementia was found in those with a combination of high physical and high cognitive demands. These participants had a 55% increased risk of developing dementia compared to those in the low demand group.

Possible Explanations

The study’s authors suggest that the increased risk of dementia may be due to the stress caused by jobs with high physical and cognitive demands.

Chronic stress can lead to inflammation and damage to the brain, which can increase the risk of dementia.

Alternatively, it may be that people who are more prone to developing dementia are more likely to choose or be forced into jobs with high physical and cognitive demands.

Implications

The findings of this study have significant implications for occupational health and safety policies. Employers need to take steps to reduce the physical and cognitive demands of jobs to protect the health of their workers.

This may involve improving job design, increasing the use of automation and technology, providing training and support, and implementing ergonomic measures such as adjustable workstations and chairs.

For individuals, the study highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of dementia. This includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, and managing stress.

Conclusion

The study provides important evidence of the link between work-related physical and cognitive demands and the risk of developing dementia.

The findings suggest that chronic stress may play a role in the development of dementia and highlight the need for improved occupational health and safety policies to protect workers.