Women Who Work - Better Memory!

A recent study of women 55 and over suggests that those long hours in the paid work force might pay off in a stronger memory in later years.

The article, published in Neurology, shows that among the 6,189 women studied, those who spent time in the work force during early to middle age exhibited a lower rater of memory decline over those who stayed out of the labor market. Even taking into account marital status, single or married, the data remained positive across the board.

What is the reason for this increased mental advantage? Probably the social and cognitive stimulation of a work environment that provides a healthy mix of being with other people, solving problems, and stretching mental capacities.

Experts shy from making the claim that paid work leads to better mental health. Rather, jobs can provide a setting that encourages active engagement, helping to ward off the onset of memory loss. Any “exercising of the brain” has the potential to positively affect its health over a lifespan.

Sabbath, an associate professor at Boston College School of Social Work and one of the researchers on the study explains, "I think there are a lot of cognitive benefits from working. With work, we often think of the health hazards there can be. But this study highlights the possible health benefits."

Participants were given memory tests every two years and most of them were followed over 12 years. In one data set, women 60-70 showed a 50% difference in memory retention between those at home and those in the paid labor force. One of the other interesting finds was the even single-working mothers tended to score higher on memory than their at-home married counterparts, indicating that despite the stressors of working and single-parenting, the longer-term cognitive benefits were still significant.

The researchers are quick to point out that their study limited its scope to memory retention and cannot make any claims to a connection between work and other mental abilities. And even though memory loss can precede dementia, there is no guaranteed correlation between the two.

Dr. Thomas Vidic, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, who was not involved in the study, paints a broader picture. Social engagement and mental challenges can come from other stimulating sources outside of paid work— activities like community involvement, volunteering, and intellectual pursuits. Add to this regular exercise, a nutritious eating regime, positive relationships, and avoidance of substance abuse, and you have a good shot at better brain health.

"I think the take-away is that what we do in early adulthood and middle-age affects our health later in life," Vidic said. "You don't want to wait until you're 80 to make changes."

And remember that regardless of mental health, the team at Hillsborough Wills & Trusts has the expertise to help you Build Your Circle of Security! Contact us at:

https://hillsboroughwills.com/contact

https://consumer.healthday.com/11-4-working-women-aging-brains-2648565312.html