The Harvard Health Report emphasizes the strange connection between certain professions and the less risk of dying from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). According to research considered by the doctor Robert H. Schmerling, taxi drivers and ambulances show significantly lower death rates compared to many other professions. Scientists believe that real -time mental demands in these jobs can enhance the hippocampus, the brain area, important for memory and spatial awareness, and one of the first areas affected by Alzheimer’s disease. If this is confirmed, these findings can open new doors in understanding and preventing the disease.
Ambulances and Taxi can protect against Alzheimer
Earlier studies on London taxi drivers have found an increase in certain branches of the hippocampus, a part of the brain responsible for spatial memory. This region is particularly vulnerable to damage caused by Alzheimer. Researchers suspect that the constant mental reflection, the planning of the routes and decision -making involved in the taxi and ambulance management help maintain the health of the hippocampus. These jobs often require drivers to process information instantly, adapt to change of traffic models and find the most effective routes in unfamiliar areas. Over time, this mental training can strengthen nerve connections in the brain, potentially slowing or preventing the deterioration associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
That found a new study
The study studied data from almost nine million death certificates, focusing on 443 professions. After the middle age adjustment, the researchers found amazing differences in the mortality associated with Alzheimer. Alzheimer made only 0.91 percent of the taxi and 1.03 percent among the ambulance drivers. It was more than 40 percent lower than the total average population and much lower than 1.82 percent that were observed among the executives. The pilots and captains of the ships had one of the highest tariffs, with 2.34 percent and 2.12 percent respectively. The data obtained suggest that the level of active navigation needed at work can be an important factor, although the benefit was not observed for other types of dementia.
Why other navigation tasks are not equally protective
While such jobs such as pilot of the plane, the captain on the ship or the bus driving may seem like navigation requirements, researchers explain that these roles often perform fixed routes or largely rested on automated systems. Pilots can depend on autopilot and air traffic control, ship captains can move along predetermined marine routes, and bus drivers usually repeat the same way daily. As a result, the cognitive problem is less intense and less diverse compared to taxi drivers and ambulances, which should constantly adapt to new road conditions, passenger directions and scenarios. This constant need for flexible problems can be key for the observed brain advantages.
Can daily activities have the same effect?
Experts believe that you can get similar advantages of the brain through the borders of professional management. Activities that require spatial reasoning and complex navigation skills can potentially help maintain the hippocampus function. Examples include orientation, gekering and hike to unfamiliar terrain using a map and a compass. Even closed activities such as Jigsaw puzzles, Rubik’s cubes, or playing spatially complex video games, such as Tetris and Minecraft, can provide cognitive stimulation. However, researchers warn that there is still no final evidence that such activity reduces Alzheimer’s risk in the same way as these classes. Additional studies will be required to confirm whether these entertainment tasks have long -term protective effects.
Taking
While this study does not prove the finally that taxi or rapid medical help prevents Alzheimer’s disease, it gives weight the theory that mentally complex and spatially demanding activity can help protect brain health. Harvard experts recommend that people interested in reducing Alzheimer risk combine mentally stimulating activities with other proven life measures. These include maintaining regular physical activity, eating a diet rich in nutrients, cardiovascular health, staying socially related and providing good sleep quality. These strategies together offer the best chances to reduce the likelihood of Alzheimer’s development and other forms of dementia.
