The impact of occupational complexity on cognition in clinical neuropsychology practice with the elderly

Project Summary

In the field of clinical neuropsychology, the use of cognitive tests to identify cognitive impairments is a common practice, especially when working with older individuals who may experience memory difficulties. The clinician then interprets the results while taking into account the patient’s age, sex, and level of education since it is well-established that these factors can influence cognition. However, the current clinical approach may overlook a fourth crucial factor: job complexity. Several unanswered questions remain: Does job complexity have a greater impact on cognition than education? Is the positive influence of occupational complexity on cognition larger in females than males? Will the consideration of occupational complexity in clinical practice result in measurable improvements in test interpretation? These are the questions at the core of this research project.