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

Conferencia; Alzheimer's Association International Conference; 2017

Alzheimer's Association International

Background: Cognitive reserve is the ability to optimize performance through differential recruitment of brain networks, which may reflect the use of alternative cognitive strategies. Work is one of the most important sources of cognitive stimulation 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 healthy older adults 71,51 years (ds=8.92). Instruments: The Questionnaire of Social Demographic Data (built ad hoc), the Questionnaire on Agency of Labor Activity (CAAL, according to its acronym in Spanish) and a neuropsychological battery of tests that assessed: Memory Attention, Language, Executive functionsandVisuoconstruction.Results: Results reveal: A positive association of Complexity with Data and with People, with Verbal abilities (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 Occupational Complexity with Things, a negative association with Memory (Logic Memory r =.-30, p <.05) and Verbal abilities (Vocabulary WAISIII r = .31, p <.05) was noticed. Regarding to the degree of Dependency-Independence of the work activity 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 play an important role in the enhancement of cognitive abilities, being an important buffer of cognitive deterioration in the aging process. Work with Data and People enhance some aspects of cognition like verbal abilities and abstract reasoning, and especially with regard to verbal abilities, these arealso increased in those activities that are less routine and where individuals are more independent. The present study coincides with other researches, and adds empirical evidence of interest forthe clinical and scientific fields of healthy cognitive ageing.