The Cognitive Benefits of Teaching

A recent study revealed the cognitive advantages for teachers and other individuals engaged in careers demanding high cognitive and interpersonal skills.

Recently published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, the study analyzed the health records and occupational data of a group of 7,000 Norwegians to disclose any correlation between career paths and the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. The findings revealed that those entrenched in routine jobs from their 30s to 60s faced a 66 percent higher risk of MCI and a 37 percent greater risk of dementia after reaching the age of 70 compared to those engaged in mentally stimulating jobs.

The study delineated between routine jobs such as factory workers, bookkeepers, and mail carriers that involve repetitive manual and mental tasks and cognitively demanding jobs such as lawyers, doctors, engineers, and teachers. These jobs involve creative thinking, analyzing information, problem-solving, explaining ideas to others, and mental demands such as coaching or motivating others.  

From creating innovative lesson plans to nurturing the intellectual curiosity of students, teachers are at the forefront of cognitive engagement. By routinely engaging in intellectually stimulating tasks, teachers fortify their cognitive resilience, laying the foundation for a healthier cognitive journey.

For more information on the topic, check out the recent CNN article Routine jobs raise the risk of cognitive decline by 66% and dementia by 37%, study says.