Associations between occupational trajectories at ages 35-55 and later-life cognition in older adults in Chile

As global rates of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) increase, understanding the factors that contribute to cognitive aging is crucial. This study examined the association between occupational skill trajectories between ages 35 and 55 and cognitive function among older Chilean adults aged 60 and above. It explored how different patterns of occupational trajectories relate to cognitive performance.

The analysis used data from the Chile-Cog study, which applied the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) to a nationally representative sample of Chilean adults in 2019. These cognitive assessments were linked to detailed occupational histories from the Chilean Social Protection Survey (SPS). Using Sequence Analysis, occupational trajectories between ages 35 and 55 were classified into nine groups for women and six groups for men. Cognitive function was measured using a composite cognitive score based on the HCAP items. Linear regression models estimated the associations between occupational trajectory groups and cognitive outcomes, separately for women (n = 1,009) and men (n = 769).

Individuals with longer participation in middle- and high-skill occupations showed better cognitive performance at older ages, whereas prolonged periods in low-skill jobs or not being employed were associated with lower scores. However, no strong evidence emerged on associations between specific trajectories of occupational mobility and cognitive outcomes.

The findings suggest that cumulative time in higher-skill occupations may be more important for cognitive aging than occupational mobility itself. This study contributes to understanding how occupational trajectories shape cognition in later life and offers insights for countries undergoing economic and demographic transitions.