A boring job really CAN make you brain dead: Lack of stimulation ‘affects memory and concentration later in life’

June 17, 2016

People who were not stimulated at work showed decline in brain function
Researchers say this is because brain is a muscle which needs using
Exposure to dirty workplace also negatively affected the brain

Kate Pickles For Mailonline

Published:
03:22 EST, 17 June 2016

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Updated:
03:30 EST, 17 June 2016

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We’ve all had a boring job where every minute drags as we count down the hours until it’s finally home time.

If this isn’t reason enough to make us reach for the job pages, a study has found a lack of stimulation can have a long term effect on the brain.

Researchers at Florida State University found both having a dull job and a dirty working environment can have a long-term cognitive effect on employees.

Not being stimulated at work can lead to a decline in brain function later in life, affecting people’s abilities to complete tasks, manage time and pay attention

In the past, researchers have been divided 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.

Lead researcher Dr Joseph Grzywacz said the new study was significant because it showed both can play an important role in long-term cognitive well-being.

He and his team used cognitive function data from almost 5,000 working adults participating in the ‘Midlife in the United States’ study.

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Scientists examined individuals’ workplaces and their ability to maintain and later use information they learned.

They also looked at their ability to complete tasks, manage time and pay attention.

They found greater occupational complexity – the learning of new skills and taking on new challenges – resulted in stronger cognitive performance in people, as they aged.

This was especially true with women.

Participants had also been asked about any memory issues they were experiencing.

‘The practical issue here is cognitive decline associated with ageing and the thought of, ”if you don’t use it, you lose it’,’ Dr Grzywacz said.

A dirty workplace was also linked to people who showed cognitive decline later in life, the study found

The second result was those who had jobs that exposed them to a dirty working environment saw a cognitive decline.

‘Psychologists say that the brain is a muscle [so if you don’t use it, you lose it], while industrial hygienists point to chemicals in the work environment that may cause decline,’ he said.

‘There are real things in the workplace that can shape cognitive function – some that you can see or touch, and others you can’t.

‘We showed both matter to cognitive health in adulthood.’

Dr Grzywacz added: ‘Both of these issues are important when we think about the long-term health of men and women.’

‘Designing jobs to ensure that all workers have some decision making ability may protect cognitive function later in life, but it’s also about cleaning up the workplace.’

The study was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine