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Lack of stimulation, dirty working environment to affect long term cognitive function in employees, says study
Posted on: 19/Jun/2016 11:17:30 AM
A new study has said that a lack of stimulation in the workplace and a dirty working environment can have a long-term cognitive effect on employees. The study was conducted by researchers at the Florida State University in the US, and was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Say the researchers, Psychologists say that the brain is a muscle, while industrial hygienists point to chemicals in the work environment that may cause decline. There are real things in the workplace that can shape cognitive function: some that you can see or touch and others you cannot. We showed that both matter to cognitive health in adulthood.
Historically, researchers have deferred on whether it was working in an unclean workplace facing exposure to agents such as mold, lead or loud noises - or working in an unstimulating environment that took the biggest toll on brain health as people aged. The researchers of this study say that the new study is significant because it showed both can play an important role in long-term cognitive well-being.
Cognitive function data of 4963 adults between the ages of 32 and 84 were studied. Forty seven per cent of this group was make and fifty three per cent were female.
According to the researchers, The results of the study show that that greater occupational complexity - that is the learning of new skills and taking on new challenges - resulted in stronger cognitive performance particularly for women as they aged. The second result was that men and women who had jobs that exposed them to a dirty working environment saw a cognitive decline. Both of these issues are important when we think about the long-term health of men and women.
The data examined the individual’s workplaces. Then, they examined their ability to maintain and later use information they learned. They also looked at their executive functioning skills such as their ability to complete tasks, manage time and pay attention. Additionally, the data included responses from participants asking them about any memory issues they were experiencing.
Speaking about the results, the researchers said, The practical issue here is cognitive decline associated with ageing and the thought of, if you do not use it, you lose it. Designing jobs to ensure that all workers have some decision making ability may protect cognitive function later in life, but it is also about cleaning up the workplace.
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