Comment by emmelaich
12 hours ago
What are some possibilities?
1. Those with spatial reasoning are less likely to develop Alzheimers
2. Ambo and Taxi drivers are less likely (for some reason) to develop Alzheimers AND their work leads them to develop good spatial reasoning.
Any others? One consideration is that those with jobs requiring long periods of concentration drink less. Among other things.
People with excess brain capacity are able to easily acquire spatial reasoning, and can (more) easily work/qualify for ambo and taxi jobs. Their excess brain capacity makes progressive brain damage more difficult to impact them before other causes of death.
- Drivers with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s struggled to remain effective and changed profession
I had the same thought, but occupation on the birth certificate is the "usual" occupation the person held.
death certificate?
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Isn't that the point? People whose cognitive abilities were already slowly declining would likely look for another job that was less demanding.
Sorry if I am misunderstanding you.
Pure speculation here. Driving is a sedentary occupation which might increase the percentage of deaths attributable to a sedentary lifestyle, with consequent decrease for Alzheimers?
It's about hippocampal size, so people with a larger hippocampus are less likely to get alzheimers as it's a barrier, lots of studies scanning London cabbies brains and they have enlarged hippocampus - it's believed to give a barrier against alzheimers.
So spatial navigational ability is another risk factor/biomarker (along with blood pressure, smoking etc)
Social interaction while spatially reasoning also helps. (Social + cognitive load)
I haven't read the article, but what if:
The problems arrizing from alzheimers are so problematic, that the cabdrivers / ambulance drivers drive themselves to death before they enter the stats as alzheimers patients?
A bit like the famous bullet holes in planes from ww2