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Occupational characteristics and cognitive performance among elderly male twins.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Potter, GG; Plassman, BL; Helms, MJ; Foster, SM; Edwards, NW
Published in: Neurology
October 24, 2006

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of occupational characteristics on cognitive status change in members of the NAS-NRC Twins Registry of World War II veterans. METHODS: Participants completed the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m) on three occasions spanning a period of approximately 7 years. Based on factor analysis, occupational characteristics were interpreted as reflecting general intellectual demands (GI), human interaction and communication (HC), physical exertion (PE), and visual attention (VA). RESULTS: Based on regression analysis of TICS-m change that was dependent on twin pairing and additionally covarying for education, age at each testing event, medical conditions, and initial TICS-m score, higher GI was associated with a modest longitudinal improvement in TICS-m performance, whereas higher PE and VA were both associated with a modest decline. Subsequent analysis revealed that these significant effects were present among dizygotic twins, but not among monozygotic twins. CONCLUSIONS: Previous findings of a relationship between occupational characteristics and cognitive performance in later life may be partially explained by genetic factors; however, until these genes are identified, occupational characteristics may be useful markers.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neurology

DOI

EISSN

1526-632X

Publication Date

October 24, 2006

Volume

67

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1377 / 1382

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Visual Perception
  • Twins, Monozygotic
  • Twins, Dizygotic
  • Twins
  • Regression Analysis
  • Registries
  • Physical Exertion
  • Occupations
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Potter, G. G., Plassman, B. L., Helms, M. J., Foster, S. M., & Edwards, N. W. (2006). Occupational characteristics and cognitive performance among elderly male twins. Neurology, 67(8), 1377–1382. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000240061.51215.ed
Potter, G. G., B. L. Plassman, M. J. Helms, S. M. Foster, and N. W. Edwards. “Occupational characteristics and cognitive performance among elderly male twins.Neurology 67, no. 8 (October 24, 2006): 1377–82. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000240061.51215.ed.
Potter GG, Plassman BL, Helms MJ, Foster SM, Edwards NW. Occupational characteristics and cognitive performance among elderly male twins. Neurology. 2006 Oct 24;67(8):1377–82.
Potter, G. G., et al. “Occupational characteristics and cognitive performance among elderly male twins.Neurology, vol. 67, no. 8, Oct. 2006, pp. 1377–82. Pubmed, doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000240061.51215.ed.
Potter GG, Plassman BL, Helms MJ, Foster SM, Edwards NW. Occupational characteristics and cognitive performance among elderly male twins. Neurology. 2006 Oct 24;67(8):1377–1382.

Published In

Neurology

DOI

EISSN

1526-632X

Publication Date

October 24, 2006

Volume

67

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1377 / 1382

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Visual Perception
  • Twins, Monozygotic
  • Twins, Dizygotic
  • Twins
  • Regression Analysis
  • Registries
  • Physical Exertion
  • Occupations
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged