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Shift or night shift work and dementia risk: a systematic review
V Leso1, A Caturano, I Vetrani
1Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. veruscka.leso@unina.it.
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
|January 28, 2021
Summary
Shift work may increase dementia risk, but evidence is not conclusive. Further research is needed to confirm the link and explore contributing factors like circadian disruption and lifestyle.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder impacting cognitive functions.
- Aging and other factors contribute to dementia pathogenesis.
- Shift and night work may disrupt circadian rhythms, potentially influencing dementia risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the scientific literature on the association between shift or night work and cognitive decline.
- To provide an overview of current findings regarding shift work and dementia risk.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of studies was conducted.
- Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases.
- Studies investigating the relationship between shift/night work and dementia were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Findings on the association between shift work and dementia risk were not homogeneous.
- Some studies suggested a positive association between shift work and increased dementia risk.
- Potential mediating factors include cardiometabolic disorders, lifestyle, psychosocial stress, genetic susceptibility, and duration of shift work.
Conclusions:
- The current evidence is limited, preventing definitive conclusions on the shift work-dementia relationship.
- Further research is required to confirm the association and establish causality.
- Findings could inform occupational risk assessments and strategies for promoting healthy aging and public health.
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