Research project Psychosocial stress over the working career and cognitive dysfunction
Earlier research suggests that high levels of workplace stress may increase the risk of cognitive impairment in midlife and of dementia in late life. However, not all people who experience high levels of psychosocial stress will develop cognitive dysfunction.
The optimal goal of this project is to identify the critical timing and duration of high levels of work stress across the work career on risk of cognitive dysfunction and the modifiable factors that can counteract the negative effects, providing a scientific evidence base for the development of personalised preventive strategies.
Project description
We will use available data from two large cohort studies: the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH, n> 20000, 2006–2016) and the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, n>25000, 2004/2005–2015). Both of these databases have repeated biennial measures of psychosocial work stress, sociodemographic, lifestyle behaviours, and health status over 10 years period.
Understanding the role of sensitive period and duration of exposure to psychological work stress in the development of cognitive dysfunction, especially the role of modifiable factors in counteracting its detrimental effect, may lead to the development of more effective individualised prevention strategies, which may have important consequences both for individuals and society.
Project members
Project managers
Hui Xin Wang
Professor
Members
Aleksandra Lebedeva
Guest Researcher
Hugo Westerlund
Professor
Torbjörn Åkerstedt
Professor Emeritus