Working Women Show Sharper Memories With Age-Consumer Health News

Wednesday, November 4, 2020 (HealthDay News)-New research suggests that women working outside the home may end up with sharper memories later in life.

Researchers found that among approximately 6,200 U.S. women over the age of 55, young adults and middle-aged women who worked for a fee tended to have poorer memory than women who were away from the workforce. I found that there are few.

This connection was seen whether the woman was married, single, or had children.

Experts said the findings do not prove that paid work somehow maintains brain health.

But they also said that the connection between work and memory makes sense. Other studies have found that both psychological and social stimuli can help prevent amnesia as people grow older. And the job can provide those things.

“In my interpretation, participation in the workforce is a proxy for those others,” said Dr. Thomas Vidic, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology who was not involved in the study.

For Vidic, this study provides “another data” that continued mental and social involvement can benefit the brain later in life.

Erica Sabas, one of the researchers in this study, made a similar point.

“I think there are many cognitive benefits to working,” said Sabas, an associate professor at Boston College Social Work School.

Work can include everything from mentally demanding work to managing relationships with other people, which can improve the brain, she said.

“At work, we often think there can be health hazards,” said the Sabbath. “But this study highlights possible health benefits.”

The study was published online on November 4th Neurology, Six,189 women aged 55 and over who underwent a memory test every two years participated. On average, they were tracked for 12 years.

Overall, women who worked outside the home during young adulthood and middle age had less memory loss over time. For example, between the ages of 60 and 70, the rate of decrease for non-working mothers was more than 50% higher than for mothers who worked outside the home.

It was after researchers explained many other factors, including race, education level, and the social and economic situation of women as a child. In fact, the rate of memory loss of working single mothers was slower than that of married housewives-researchers found that the latter group tended to come from a “more privileged” background.

The results of single mothers are amazing, Sabbath said. Working single mothers often face stress and financial difficulties, and past studies have shown that they are more vulnerable to health conditions such as heart disease than married working women.

The Sabbath said that cognitive health could differ as work life benefits in the face of stressors.

Dr. Nyram Agarwal, an associate professor of neurology at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, agreed that work might boost the brain. “In the work environment, there are many different types of activities. New skills, new interactions with team members mean new ways of processing new information. This allows the brain to“ exercise ”and as a result of exercise, lifelong. Cognitive function is strengthened over. “Agarwal said.

There is a caveat. The researchers noted that the study focused only on memory loss and not on other mental abilities. Memory loss may precede dementia, but there is no guarantee that it will.

The Sabbath also emphasized that the findings reflect average differences between groups.

“Just because you belong to a higher risk group doesn’t mean you’re at higher risk personally,” she said.

Vidic pointed out the big picture. Studies have linked many correctable factors to memory loss and the risk of dementia in later years. In general, he is believed to promote better brain health by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, and controlling cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Said that.

When it comes to mental and social stimuli, Vidic said paid work is not the only source of information. For example, volunteering and community participation can also benefit.

“I think the important thing is that what we do in early adulthood and middle age affects our health in later years,” Vidic said. “You don’t have to wait for changes until you’re 80.”

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