Occupational self-direction and its role as a buffering factor of cognitive performance in old age, preliminary results.

FELDBERG, C.; STEFANI, D.; SOMALE, V.; TARTAGLINI, M.F.; HERMIDA, P.D.; ITURRY, M.; BARTOLONI, L.; CECILIA, S.; CAMPOS, J.; ALLEGRI, R.

Londres

Congreso; Alzheimer´s Association International Conference; 2017

Alzheimer´s Association International

Background: Cognitive reserve is the ability to optimize performance throughdifferential recruitment of brain networks, which may reflect the use of alternativecognitive strategies. Work is one of the most important sources of cognitivestimulation during adulthood.In the framework of cognitive reserve, the aim of the current research is to assess the possible relationship between Occupational Self-direction (conformed by three dimensions: Occupational Complexity,Dependency-Independence and Routine- Novelty)and cognitive performance, in a group of healthy . . Method: This was a restrospective correlation cross sectional study of 50 healthyolder adults 71,51 years(ds=8.92). Instruments: The Questionnaire of Social Demographic Data (built ad hoc), the Questionnaire on Agency ofLabor Activity (CAAL, according to its acronym in Spanish) and a neuropsychologicalbattery of tests that assessed: Memory Attention, Language, Executive functionsand Visuoconstruction.Results: Results reveal: A positive association of Complexity with Data and with People, with Verbalabilities (Vocabulary WAIS III :r = .40, p <.01)  and Abstract reasoning (Matrix Reasoning WAISIII.r=.33, p <.05;TMTB r =.30, p <.05). Meanwhile, when analyzing OccupationalComplexity with Things, a negative association with Memory (Logic Memory r =.-30, p <.05) and Verbal abilities (Vocabulary WAISIII r = .31, p <.05) wasnoticed. Regarding to the degree of Dependency-Independence of the workactivity and the degree of Routine- Novelty,both were positively correlated with semantic fluency: Dependency- Independence(r = .37,p <.05); Routine- Novelty (r = .36, p <.05)Conclusions: Within the framework of cognitive reserve, Occupational Self-direction playan important role in the enhancement of cognitive abilities, being an importantbuffer of cognitive deterioration in the aging process. Work with Data andPeople enhance some aspects of cognition like verbal abilities and abstractreasoning, and especially with regard to verbal abilities, these are alsoincreased in those activities that are less routine and where individuals aremore independent. The present study coincides with otherresearches, and adds empirical evidence of interest for the clinical andscientific fields of healthy cognitive ageing.