The effect of occupational physical activity on dementia: Results from the Copenhagen Male Study

Leisure‐time physical activity (LTPA) reduces the risk of dementia, while the effect of occupational physical activity (OPA) on dementia is uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of OPA on dementia. For comparison, also the association between LTPA and dementia was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports 2021-02, Vol.31 (2), p.446-455
Main Authors: Nabe‐Nielsen, Kirsten, Holtermann, Andreas, Gyntelberg, Finn, Garde, Anne Helene, Islamoska, Sabrina, Prescott, Eva, Schnohr, Peter, Hansen, Åse Marie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
Alzheimer's disease
Blood Pressure
cognitive function
Dementia
Dementia - epidemiology
Denmark - epidemiology
Exercise
Health Behavior
Humans
Incidence
job
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Marital Status
Middle Aged
occupational health
physical demands
Self Report
Socioeconomic Factors
strenuous work
Stress, Psychological
work load
working environment
Workplace - statistics & numerical data
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Summary:Leisure‐time physical activity (LTPA) reduces the risk of dementia, while the effect of occupational physical activity (OPA) on dementia is uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of OPA on dementia. For comparison, also the association between LTPA and dementia was analyzed. In this longitudinal study, we used self‐reported questionnaire data on OPA and LTPA collected in 1970‐71 from 4721 male employees, who were 40‐59 years old at baseline. Dementia was identified through national registers and participants were followed from they turned 60 years and until 2016. We estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) and adjusted for age, socioeconomic status, marital status, and psychological stress. In additional analyses, we included health behaviors and blood pressure and mutually adjusted OPA and LTPA. We identified 697 dementia cases during 86 557 person‐years. We found an IRR of 1.48 (95% CI: 1.05‐2.10) among participants with high OPA compared with participants in sedentary jobs. Participants with high LTPA had a non‐significantly lower IRR of dementia compared with participants with a sedentary leisure time. In conclusion, LTPA and OPA are differentially associated with dementia. Therefore, current recommendations regarding the beneficial effect of physical activity on dementia only concern LTPA, and more research on OPA and dementia is needed.
ISSN:0905-7188
1600-0838
DOI:10.1111/sms.13846