To what extent is occupation of influence on the risk of dementia?: A systematic review

Abstract Introduction and background Dementia is typically a disease of old age and is characterised by chronic disorder of behaviour and intellectual function. With an aging population the disease is becoming of increasing concern. Increased awareness of the disease as one of modifiable risk has...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Wilcox, Caroline
Format: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
English
English
English
English
English
Published: 2010
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/23605/
_version_ 1848792594282184704
author Wilcox, Caroline
author_facet Wilcox, Caroline
author_sort Wilcox, Caroline
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Abstract Introduction and background Dementia is typically a disease of old age and is characterised by chronic disorder of behaviour and intellectual function. With an aging population the disease is becoming of increasing concern. Increased awareness of the disease as one of modifiable risk has prompted research to further investigate such risk factors. Current research indicates a number of lifestyle factors to be of influence in forming overall disease risk. This study aims to establish the effect occupation has on the risk of developing dementia. Methodology To achieve the study aims a systematic review was carried out. A literature search allowed relevant literature to be identified. Searching took place across a range of databases using predetermined search terms. After initial searching studies were then further selected for inclusion in the review based on clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. Articles were selected for inclusion in four stages; articles returned using search terms, relevance on reading title, relevance on reading abstract and finally relevance after reading full text. Results and Conclusions Three main outcomes were found within the included studies. No relationship between occupation and dementia, highly skilled occupation linked with low risk of dementia and low skilled occupation linked with high risk of dementia. The potential for a causal relationship was identified and further investigated using the Bradford Hill criteria for causal relationships. The findings fulfilled six of the nine criteria indicating a causal relationship is likely. However, this relationship is difficult to disentangle from the effects of social interaction and education on the risk of dementia. This review concluded that a strong relationship exists between occupation and dementia. The author also recommends targeted health promotion to allow those more at risk of dementia to be provided with cognitively stimulating tasks and be encouraged to engage in socially stimulating environments.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T18:46:53Z
format Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
id nottingham-23605
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
language English
English
English
English
English
English
last_indexed 2025-11-14T18:46:53Z
publishDate 2010
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-236052022-03-21T16:06:25Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/23605/ To what extent is occupation of influence on the risk of dementia?: A systematic review Wilcox, Caroline Abstract Introduction and background Dementia is typically a disease of old age and is characterised by chronic disorder of behaviour and intellectual function. With an aging population the disease is becoming of increasing concern. Increased awareness of the disease as one of modifiable risk has prompted research to further investigate such risk factors. Current research indicates a number of lifestyle factors to be of influence in forming overall disease risk. This study aims to establish the effect occupation has on the risk of developing dementia. Methodology To achieve the study aims a systematic review was carried out. A literature search allowed relevant literature to be identified. Searching took place across a range of databases using predetermined search terms. After initial searching studies were then further selected for inclusion in the review based on clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. Articles were selected for inclusion in four stages; articles returned using search terms, relevance on reading title, relevance on reading abstract and finally relevance after reading full text. Results and Conclusions Three main outcomes were found within the included studies. No relationship between occupation and dementia, highly skilled occupation linked with low risk of dementia and low skilled occupation linked with high risk of dementia. The potential for a causal relationship was identified and further investigated using the Bradford Hill criteria for causal relationships. The findings fulfilled six of the nine criteria indicating a causal relationship is likely. However, this relationship is difficult to disentangle from the effects of social interaction and education on the risk of dementia. This review concluded that a strong relationship exists between occupation and dementia. The author also recommends targeted health promotion to allow those more at risk of dementia to be provided with cognitively stimulating tasks and be encouraged to engage in socially stimulating environments. 2010 Dissertation (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/23605/1/Appendix_1.pdf application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/23605/2/Appendix_2.pdf application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/23605/3/Appendix_3.zip application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/23605/4/Appendix_4_Data_Extraction_Form.pdf application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/23605/5/Appendix_5.pdf application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/23605/6/Caroline_Wilcox_Dissertation.pdf Wilcox, Caroline (2010) To what extent is occupation of influence on the risk of dementia?: A systematic review. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)
spellingShingle Wilcox, Caroline
To what extent is occupation of influence on the risk of dementia?: A systematic review
title To what extent is occupation of influence on the risk of dementia?: A systematic review
title_full To what extent is occupation of influence on the risk of dementia?: A systematic review
title_fullStr To what extent is occupation of influence on the risk of dementia?: A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed To what extent is occupation of influence on the risk of dementia?: A systematic review
title_short To what extent is occupation of influence on the risk of dementia?: A systematic review
title_sort to what extent is occupation of influence on the risk of dementia?: a systematic review
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/23605/