| Literature DB >> 26156334 |
Elizabeth A Boots1, Stephanie A Schultz1, Rodrigo P Almeida2, Jennifer M Oh1, Rebecca L Koscik3, Maritza N Dowling4, Catherine L Gallagher5, Cynthia M Carlsson1, Howard A Rowley6, Barbara B Bendlin7, Sanjay Asthana7, Mark A Sager8, Bruce P Hermann8, Sterling C Johnson7, Ozioma C Okonkwo9.
Abstract
Higher occupational attainment has previously been associated with increased Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology when individuals are matched for cognitive function, indicating occupation could provide cognitive reserve. We examined whether occupational complexity (OCC) associates with decreased hippocampal volume and increased whole-brain atrophy given comparable cognitive function in middle-aged adults at risk for AD. Participants (n = 323) underwent structural MRI, cognitive evaluation, and work history assessment. Three complexity ratings (work with data, people, and things) were obtained, averaged across up to 3 reported jobs, weighted by years per job, and summed to create a composite OCC rating. Greater OCC was associated with decreased hippocampal volume and increased whole-brain atrophy when matched for cognitive function; results remained substantively unchanged after adjusting for several demographic, AD risk, vascular, mental health, and socioeconomic characteristics. These findings suggest that, in people at risk for AD, OCC may confer resilience to the adverse effects of neuropathology on cognition.Entities:
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Cognition; Cognitive reserve; Hippocampus; Imaging; Occupation
Mesh:
Year: 2015 PMID: 26156334 PMCID: PMC4605365 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acv041
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Arch Clin Neuropsychol ISSN: 0887-6177 Impact factor: 2.813