These low-paying jobs found to increase risk of dementia - new study

Not only is having a job that pays less bad for you financially, it could also impact your memory over a period of time. New research suggests that spending a decade working a low-paying jobs could speed up cognitive decline, an indication of dementia, DailyMail reports.

Job and memory loss

Scientists at Columbia University in New York arrived at these conclusions after comparing the earnings of almost 2,900 US adults during their 50s and 60s against how their brain aged over time. The data showed that people who earned less than two-thirds of the median wage - $27,000 (£22,100) - in the US, suffered quicker memory loss than peers on a better salary. The jobs typical

Jobs that fall in this category include entry-level cleaners, fast food workers and teaching assistants. Lead scientist Dr Katrina Kezios said:

Sustained exposure to low wages during peak earning years is associated with accelerated memory decline later in life.

Implications

Results from the study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology showed that people on consistent low wages during the prime of their careers had significantly faster cognitive decline in later years. Those on lower wages throughout the 12-year period saw 10 per cent more decline than those on better wages, DailyMail noted.

The study fell short of outlining the reasons why low wages are linked to cognitive decline, but previous studies suggest it could be due to unhealthy dietary and lifestyle choices that people in this wage bracket tend to make. Senior author Dr Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri said:

Our findings suggest social policies that enhance the financial well-being of low-wage workers may be especially beneficial for cognitive health.

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