Women who participated in the paid labor force between early adulthood and middle age, including mothers and non-mothers, experienced slower memory decline in late-life according to research reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2019.

"The majority of people living with Alzheimer's are women and it's imperative we understand why," said Maria C. Carrillo, PhD, Alzheimer's Association chief science officer. "The research reported today at AAIC gets us one step closer to answering that question by identifying specific biological and social reasons why Alzheimer's is different in men and women."

Women have experienced drastic changes in patterns of employment and family circumstances over the last 100 years. To better understand how women's work-family demands (paid labor force participation, marriage, motherhood) may play a role in late-life memory decline, Elizabeth Rose Mayeda, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of epidemiology at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and team studied women born between 1935 and 1956 in the Health and Retirement Study (n=6,386).

Women in the study reported waged employment, marital and parenthood status between ages 16 and 50. Memory performance was measured using standardized tests approximately every two years starting when the women were age 50 or older.

The researchers found that women in the study who participated in the paid labor force between early adulthood and middle age, including mothers and non-mothers, experienced slower memory decline in late-life. Rate of memory decline was fastest among women who did not engage in waged employment. For example, compared with married mothers who participated in the paid labor force:

• Average memory performance between ages 60 and 70 years declined 61% faster for married women with children who never engaged in waged employment, and
• Average memory performance between ages 60 and 70 years declined 83% faster for women who experienced a prolonged period of single motherhood without waged employment.

Based on these findings, the scientists suggest that participation in the paid labor force may play an important role in late-life cognitive health for women. This builds on prior research that has found participation in the workforce is associated with higher levels of cognitive stimulation and increase in cognitive reserve.

"Though preliminary, our research provides evidence that participation in the paid labor force may help prevent late-life memory decline among women. Possible pathways include mental stimulation, financial benefits, and social benefits," said Mayeda. "Future research should evaluate whether policies and programs that facilitate women's full participation in the paid labor force are effective strategies to prevent memory decline."

The study was funded by the U.S. National Institute on Aging.