Effects of self-rated mental and physical work demands on cognition are dependent in a cross-sectional sample of the Health and Retirement Study

ObjectiveThis study assessed whether self-rated physical and mental work demands were associated with cognition among older working adults and whether their effects were dependent. MethodsOur cross-sectional sample consisted of 6,377 working older adults uisng the Health and Retirement Study in 2004. Self-rated work demands were summarized from four questions about frequency of mental or physical demands in the respondents current job. Cognition was assessed using a subset of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. We used multivariable linear regression to test for associations and additive interaction between physical and mental work demands and cognition, adjusted for age, sex, race, education, and practice effect. ResultsIndependently, higher physical work demands were associated (P<0.001) with poorer cognition and higher mental work demands were associated (P<0.001) with better cognition. The effect of one work demand measure became more negative as level of the other increased (B for interaction = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.43, -0.03). A one-point increase in mental work demands was associated with 0.79 (95% CI: 0.51, 1.08) points higher cognition score when physical work demands were lowest, but was not associated with cognition when physical work demands were highest (0.11, 95% CI: -0.26, 0.48). The highest predicted cognition score was for the highest mental and lowest physical work demands. Results were robust to additional adjustment for health and behavior covariates. ConclusionsThe associations of self-rated mental and physical work demands on cognition are dependent. Future studies should strongly consider examining interactions to capture the range of work demand effects. Key pointsO_ST_ABSWhat is already known on this topicC_ST_ABSMental work demands may help to preserve cognition in older adults, both while working and after retirement. However, the relationship of physical work demands and its interaction with mental work demands on cognition is less clear. What this study addsWe found that the associations of mental and physical work demands on cognition are dependent. There was a statistically significant interaction between mental and physical work demands, with the beneficial effect of mental work demands attenuating with increasing levels of physical work demands. How this study might affect research, practice or policyThis study suggested the interactive impact of mental and physical work demands on cognition. Future studies examining work demands need to consider interaction between mental and physical work demands. More generally, this means that the traditional view of mentally stimulating work as protective of cognition may not apply for workers who also have physically demanding jobs. The effects that our jobs have on our cognitive health is complex, and ever more important as we live and work longer.