Journal of Aging and Health

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here for more information

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Andel, R.
Right arrow Articles by Gatz, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Andel, R.
Right arrow Articles by Gatz, M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
Journal of Aging and Health, Vol. 19, No. 3, 397-415 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0898264307300171
© 2007 SAGE Publications

Complexity of Primary Lifetime Occupation and Cognition in Advanced Old Age

Ross Andel, PhD

University of South Florida, randel{at}cas.usf.edu

Ingemar Kåreholt, PhD

Karolinska Institutet

Marti G. Parker, PhD

Karolinska Institutet

Mats Thorslund, PhD

Karolinska Institutet Stockholm University

Margaret Gatz, PhD

University of Southern California Karolinska Institutet

Objectives: The authors explored the association between complexity of primary lifetime occupation and cognition in older adulthood. Method: The study included 386 participants from the Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old, a nationally representative sample aged 77 years or older. The authors examined complexity of work with data, people, and things in relation to cognitive functioning, measured with a shortened version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and cognitive impairment based on MMSE score cutoff. Results: Complexity of work with data and people were associated with better MMSE scores, controlling for age, sex, childhood socioeconomic status, and education. The association between complexity of work with data and MMSE remained statistically significant when adult occupational status was substituted for education as a covariate. Discussion: Complexity of primary lifetime occupation may be reflected in cognitive functioning even in advanced old age. This effect may be independent of education or occupational status.

Key Words: occupational complexity • cognitive functioning • Mini-Mental State Examination • advanced old age


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am J EpidemiolHome page
E. Kroger, R. Andel, J. Lindsay, Z. Benounissa, R. Verreault, and D. Laurin
Is Complexity of Work Associated with Risk of Dementia?: The Canadian Study of Health and Aging
Am. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2008; 167(7): 820 - 830.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.Home page
Z. Zhang, D. Gu, and M. D. Hayward
Early Life Influences on Cognitive Impairment Among Oldest Old Chinese
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., January 1, 2008; 63(1): S25 - S33.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]