Prevalence and incidence of memory complaints in employed compared to non-employed aged 55-64 years and the role of employment characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of employment status and characteristics with prevalent and incident memory complaints (MC) in 55-64-year-olds.


METHODS
Subjects were participants of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Respondents with baseline data were selected to examine the association of employment status (n = 1525) and employment characteristics (n = 1071) with prevalent MC (i.e., MC at baseline). Respondents without MC at baseline were selected to examine the association of employment (n = 526) and employment characteristics (n = 379; working hours, job prestige, job level, psychological job demands, iso-strain) with incident MC (i.e., no MC at baseline and MC at three-year follow-up). Associations were adjusted for relevant covariates (demographics, memory performance, physical health, mental health, personality traits). Logistic regression was applied. Data were weighed according to gender and age of the Dutch population.


RESULTS
At baseline 20.5% reported MC. At three-year follow-up, 15.4% had incident MC. No associations were found between employment status and MC. Adjusted analysis revealed that individuals with high occupational cognitive demands were more likely to have prevalent MC.


CONCLUSIONS
Middle-aged workers are equally as likely to experience MC as non-working age-peers. Among workers, those with cognitively demanding work were more likely to experience MC, independent of memory performance. Memory decline due to ageing may be noticed sooner in 55-64-year-olds performing cognitively demanding work.
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Kelly J
KJ
Rijs
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Tessa N
TN
Van den Kommer
Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; GGZ InGeest partner of VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Hannie C
HC
Comijs
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Dorly J H
DJ
Deeg
D015331:Cohort Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence