A new study finds that jobs requiring constant navigation, such as taxi and ambulance driving, may be associated with a lower risk of death from Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain condition that gradually destroys memory, thinking, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. It mostly affects older people. Over time, it gets worse, causing confusion and trouble speaking or recognizing loved ones. This happens when brain cells become damaged and stop functioning properly.

This is the most common type of dementia.

Researchers at Mass General Brigham analyzed data in the US and found that people in professions such as driving a taxi or ambulance had lower rates of Alzheimer’s-related deaths than those in other jobs.

More information about the study

The study published in BMJ included nearly 9 million people from 443 different professions who died between 2020 and 2022. Of this group, 3.88% deaths (about 3,48,000 people) were due to Alzheimer’s disease.

However, only 1.03% of taxi drivers died from the disease, and for ambulance drivers, it was less than 0.74%.

Researchers believe this may be because these jobs demand real-time spatial thinking and navigation, skills that exercise the brain’s hippocampus, an area affected in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Is.

By comparison, professions such as bus driving (3.11%) or piloting (4.57%), which involve fixed routes or less intuitive navigation, did not show the same trend.

“Our findings raise the possibility that regularly using spatial and navigational skills in certain jobs may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s,” said Dr. Vishal Patel, lead author of the study.

there are limits

However, the researchers caution that the study was observational, meaning it can’t confirm whether the job itself prevents Alzheimer’s. They also noted limitations, such as that people with Alzheimer’s may be less likely to enter or remain in jobs with high cognitive demands.

Still, the study highlights the importance of understanding how daily mental activities, such as changing routes, can impact brain health.

“Although more research is needed, these results encourage us to explore whether certain cognitive activities may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Anupam B. Jena, senior author of the study.

The findings are raising interest in how staying mentally active throughout life may help protect against memory-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.