Harvard study finds certain jobs could lower Alzheimer's Risk- Here's why
Harvard Health Publishing
has found an interesting connection between some jobs and a lower risk of dying from Alzheimer's disease. Taxi and ambulance drivers, surprisingly, had the lowest rates of death from Alzheimer's disease. Experts think that the constant mental demands of these jobs may help keep the brain sharper for longer, as per a report by TOI.
How does navigation protect the brain?
Harvard Health Publishing says that some jobs may be good for brain health in ways you didn't expect, especially when it comes to Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Robert H. Shmerling looked at some research and found that taxi and ambulance drivers had a lot fewer deaths related to Alzheimer's than people in a lot of other jobs.
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One possibility is that these jobs keep your mind busy all the time. Drivers have to remember routes, plan trips on the fly, deal with changing traffic, and make quick decisions when they are under pressure. Researchers believe that this level of mental activity strengthens the hippocampus, as per a report by TOI.
This is the part of the brain that controls memory and spatial awareness. Alzheimer's disease affects this area first.
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There have been studies before, like one on London taxi drivers, that show this part of the brain can get bigger when it has to deal with navigation problems over and over again.
This "mental mapping" could help your brain stay sharp over time, which is something that Alzheimer's usually prevents, as per a report by TOI.
Why aren't all jobs that require travel just as good?
You might think that bus drivers, ship captains, and pilots would all want the same kind of brain protection, but the data shows that this isn't true. The study found that pilots and ship captains had some of the highest rates of death from Alzheimer's disease, at 2.34% and 2.12%, respectively, as per a report by TOI.
The rate for taxi drivers was 0.91%, and the rate for ambulance drivers was 1.03%. This is much lower than the rate for chief executives, which was 1.82%.
Experts say the difference is in how much people are working to solve problems. Pilots often get help from air traffic control and autopilot.
Ship captains and bus drivers usually follow the same routes every day. Taxi and ambulance drivers, on the other hand, are always changing their destinations, dealing with problems that come up out of nowhere, and racing against the clock. This makes their jobs harder mentally, which could help keep their brains healthy.
Can doing things every day help your brain the same way?
Researchers believe that some of the brain-boosting effects can be used in daily life, even though most people don't drive taxis or ambulances for a living.
It might be good for you to do hobbies that make you think about space and how to deal with new situations. Some examples are hiking in places you don't know, orienteering, geocaching, and using a map and compass, as per a report by TOI.
The hippocampus may stay active by doing things like solving difficult jigsaw puzzles, working on a Rubik's Cube, or playing video games that require a lot of spatial thinking, like Tetris or Minecraft.
Scientists say that these things are good for your brain, but they don't have enough proof to say that they lower the risk of Alzheimer's in the same way that professional driving does.
What do you need to know about stopping Alzheimer's?
This study doesn't show that driving a taxi or ambulance will keep you from getting Alzheimer's, but it does make a stronger case for keeping your brain busy. Harvard experts say that the best way to keep your brain healthy and safe from Alzheimer's and other types of dementia is to do mentally challenging things along with other things that are known to work, like getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, working out regularly, and having strong social ties, as per a report by TOI.
FAQs
Which jobs may reduce Alzheimer's risk?
Taxi and ambulance driving jobs had significantly lower Alzheimer's-related death rates.
How could these jobs protect the brain?
Constant navigation and decision-making may help the hippocampus remain healthy.
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