What is it about?
Higher levels of social interaction at work are linked to better cognition and a lower risk of dementia in old age. Drawing on data from over 9,000 people in Norway, we connected information about their midlife jobs to memory and thinking tests after age 70. People in more socially interactive jobs had a reduced risk of dementia and performed better on cognitive tests, suggesting that workplace social engagement may help protect brain health later in life.
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Why is it important?
While earlier studies have shown that social interaction at work is linked to brain health, our study use detailed, registry-based job histories combined with objective measures of cognitive function in a large population. This makes the findings more reliable than studies based only on self-report. At a time when many societies are facing rapid changes in work environments and an aging population, our results provide evidence that social interaction at work may reduce the risk of dementia in older age.
Perspectives
For me, this study shows that dementia risk is not only shaped by genes or medical factors, but also by the everyday environments we spend so much of our lives in, like our workplaces. It is motivating to think that social interactions at work could build resilience that lasts into old age. I hope this article sparks new discussions about how workplaces can contribute to long-term health and well-being.
Trine Holt Edwin
Oslo University Hospital
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Occupational social interaction is associated with reduced dementia risk: The Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT)., Psychology and Aging, September 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/pag0000940.
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