A new study published in the BMJ has found a surprising link between jobs that require frequent spatial processing and lower rates of death from Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers analyzed data on over 9 million adults across 443 occupations to investigate this connection.
The study, led by Vishal Patel, MD, MPH, found that taxi drivers and ambulance drivers had significantly lower rates of Alzheimer’s death compared to other professions. This trend was not observed in other transportation-related jobs that use predetermined routes, such as bus drivers or aircraft pilots.
According to the authors, the same part of the brain involved in creating cognitive spatial maps is also linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers hypothesized that occupations like taxi driving and ambulance driving, which demand real-time spatial and navigational processing, might be associated with a reduced burden of Alzheimer’s disease mortality.
The study found that among nearly 9 million people included in the analysis, 3.88% (348,328) died from Alzheimer’s disease. In contrast, the rate was significantly lower for taxi drivers (1.03%) and ambulance drivers (0.74%). The authors suggest that this trend may be due to neurological changes in the hippocampus or elsewhere among these occupations.
While the study is observational and cannot confirm cause and effect, it highlights the possibility that certain cognitive activities can potentially prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers acknowledge limitations, including the fact that individuals at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease may be less likely to enter memory-intensive driving occupations.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-death-alzheimer-disease-taxi-ambulance.html