Education, Occupational Environment, and Cognitive Function in Later Life.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Education is among the most robust predictors of cognitive health outcomes in later life. However, few studies have comprehensively evaluated whether and how much of this effect is explained by occupational exposures. This study aims to determine if and how much pre-retirement occupational exposures (occurring before age 60) mediate the association between education and cognitive function at age 65+.

Methods

We use data drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Occupation Information Network (O*NET) data. Informed by previous research and theory, we conducted Confirmatory Factor Analyses of occupation-level exposure measures using a longitudinal HRS-O*NET linked data set we created, and we identified 2 latent factors: occupational hazards and occupation

SUBMITTER: Cao QK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12150780 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature