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. 2015 Nov;30(7):634-42.
doi: 10.1093/arclin/acv041. Epub 2015 Jul 8.

Occupational Complexity and Cognitive Reserve in a Middle-Aged Cohort at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

Elizabeth A Boots  1 , Stephanie A Schultz  1 , Rodrigo P Almeida  2 , Jennifer M Oh  1 , Rebecca L Koscik  3 , Maritza N Dowling  4 , Catherine L Gallagher  5 , Cynthia M Carlsson  1 , Howard A Rowley  6 , Barbara B Bendlin  7 , Sanjay Asthana  7 , Mark A Sager  8 , Bruce P Hermann  8 , Sterling C Johnson  7 , Ozioma C Okonkwo  9
Affiliations

Occupational Complexity and Cognitive Reserve in a Middle-Aged Cohort at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

Elizabeth A Boots et al. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2015 Nov.

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.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Cognition; Cognitive reserve; Hippocampus; Imaging; Occupation.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Inverse relationship between OCC and hippocampal volume. Higher OCC is associated with lower hippocampal volumes given same memory test scores and adjusted for age, sex, education, ICV, MRI scan-cognitive testing time interval, AD risk factors, vascular risk factors, mental health factors, and SES. For graphing purposes, OCC was dichotomized at the median into the depicted low versus high groups. OCC = occupational complexity; ICV = intracranial volume; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; AD = Alzheimer's disease; SES = socioeconomic status.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Higher OCC is associated with increased brain atrophy. Higher OCC is associated with greater brain atrophy given same global cognitive performance and adjusted for age, sex, education, MRI scan-cognitive testing time interval, AD risk factors, vascular risk factors, mental health factors, and SES. For graphing purposes, OCC was dichotomized at the median into the depicted Low versus High groups. OCC = occupational complexity; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; AD = Alzheimer's disease; SES = socioeconomic status.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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