Mentally Challenging Careers Improve Brain Function - East Idaho News

Mentally Challenging Careers Improve Brain Function

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GETTY 4714 WorkStress?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1396864662974Otmar Winterleitner/Thinkstock(ANN ARBOR, Mich.) — It’s probably too late for many people to switch careers but if the opportunity arises, try to seek one that’s mentally challenging.

In that way, you might be helping your brain to continue working at near optimum level well into your golden years.

University of Michigan researchers came to this conclusion following an analysis of a job’s characteristics and brain function before and after retirement based on a study of nearly 4,200 men and women.

After taking into account education, income, health and other factors, the researchers determined that the more challenging the occupation, the greater the brain function at work and subsequently, a slower decline of mental capacity into retirement.

Not surprisingly, doctors demonstrated higher levels of brain function due to the job’s mental demands.

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