Work-Related Psychosocial Factors and Global Cognitive Function: Are Telomere Length and Low-Grade Inflammation Potential Mediators of This Association?

Caroline S. Duchaine, Chantal Brisson, Caroline Diorio, Denis Talbot, Elizabeth Maunsell, Pierre-Hugues Carmichael, Yves Giguère, Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet, Xavier Trudel, Ruth Ndjaboué, Michel Vézina, Alain Milot, Benoît Mâsse, Clermont E. Dionne and Danielle Laurin ()
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Caroline S. Duchaine: Centre d’excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec (CEVQ), CIUSSS-Capitale Nationale, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
Chantal Brisson: Centre d’excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec (CEVQ), CIUSSS-Capitale Nationale, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
Caroline Diorio: Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Denis Talbot: Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Elizabeth Maunsell: Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Pierre-Hugues Carmichael: Centre d’excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec (CEVQ), CIUSSS-Capitale Nationale, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
Yves Giguère: Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet: Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
Xavier Trudel: Centre d’excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec (CEVQ), CIUSSS-Capitale Nationale, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
Ruth Ndjaboué: School of Social Work, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Michel Vézina: Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
Alain Milot: Centre d’excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec (CEVQ), CIUSSS-Capitale Nationale, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
Benoît Mâsse: École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada
Clermont E. Dionne: Centre d’excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec (CEVQ), CIUSSS-Capitale Nationale, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
Danielle Laurin: Centre d’excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec (CEVQ), CIUSSS-Capitale Nationale, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: The identification of modifiable factors that could maintain cognitive function is a public health priority. It is thought that some work-related psychosocial factors help developing cognitive reserve through high intellectual complexity. However, they also have well-known adverse health effects and are considered to be chronic psychosocial stressors. Indeed, these stressors could increase low-grade inflammation and promote oxidative stress associated with accelerated telomere shortening. Both low-grade inflammation and shorter telomeres have been associated with a cognitive decline. This study aimed to evaluate the total, direct, and indirect effects of work-related psychosocial factors on global cognitive function overall and by sex, through telomere length and an inflammatory index. A random sample of 2219 participants followed over 17 years was included in this study, with blood samples and data with cognitive function drawn from a longitudinal study of 9188 white-collar workers (51% female). Work-related psychosocial factors were evaluated according to the Demand–Control–Support and the Effort–Reward Imbalance (ERI) models. Global cognitive function was evaluated with the validated Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Telomere length and inflammatory biomarkers were measured using standardised protocols. The direct and indirect effects were estimated using a novel mediation analysis method developed for multiple correlated mediators. Associations were observed between passive work or low job control, and shorter telomeres among females, and between low social support at work, ERI or iso-strain, and a higher inflammatory index among males. An association was observed with higher cognitive performance for longer telomeres, but not for the inflammatory index. Passive work overall, and low reward were associated with lower cognitive performance in males; whereas, high psychological demand in both males and females and high job strain in females were associated with a higher cognitive performance. However, none of these associations were mediated by telomere length or the inflammatory index. This study suggests that some work-related psychosocial factors could be associated with shorter telomeres and low-grade inflammation, but these associations do not explain the relationship between work-related psychosocial factors and global cognitive function. A better understanding of the biological pathways, by which these factors affect cognitive function, could guide future preventive strategies to maintain cognitive function and promote healthy aging.

Keywords: psychosocial stressors at work; effort–reward imbalance; demand–control–support; inflammatory biomarkers; telomere; IL-6; CRP; cognitive function; mediation analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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