[Occupation and Risk of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in People in over 55 Years: A Systematic Review, Spain].
BACKGROUND
Cognitive impairment and dementia are two problems with high prevalence in the elderly population. It is important to identify potentially modifiable risk factors that are associated with them. The occupation developed throughout life could be a risk factor in dementia. The objective was to analyze the association between the principal occupation developed along life and cognitive impairment or dementia in old people.


METHODS
A systematic review of scientific publications dated between 1990 and March 2014 to find studies analyzing the relationship between occupation and cognitive impairment assessed by the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE). Databases such as ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed and others, were reviewed. Criteria for inclusion: articles published between 1990 and March 2014, using the MMSE to assess cognitive performance, population over 55 years old, including occupation as study variable as well as cognitive impairment or dementia, written in Spanish, English or French.


RESULTS
18 articles were selected to review. Five cross-sectional and six longitudinal studies analyzed the association between occupation and cognitive impairment; two cross-sectional and eight longitudinal studies analyzed the association between dementia and occupation. 67% identified a relationship between the type of work and cognitive performance in adulthood.


CONCLUSIONS
Those who have a predominantly manual occupation throughout life, have an increased risk of cognitive impairment and/or dementia than those with occupations with higher intellectual requirement.
Departamento de Fisiatría y Enfermería. Universidad de Zaragoza. Zaragoza. España.
Ana Cristina
AC
Gracia Rebled
Departamento de Microbiología. Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública. Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza. España and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Sanitaria en Aragón (IIS).
Javier
J
Santabárbara Serrano
Instituto Universitario de Investigación Sanitaria en Aragón (IIS) and Departamento de Psicología y Sociología, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza. España.
Raúl López Antón
RL
López Antón
Departamento de Fisiatría y Enfermería. Universidad de Zaragoza. Zaragoza. España.
Concepción
C
Tomás Aznar
Departamento de Microbiología. Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública. Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza. España and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Sanitaria en Aragón (IIS).
Guillermo
G
Marcos Aragüés
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain
Alzheimer Disease; Dementia; Mental Health; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Occupational Health; Occupations; Review Literature as Topic; Risk Factors; Spain