Main occupation complexity and later‐life cognitive function among older adults in Brazil and Mexico.

Abstract

Occupation complexity during adulthood may contribute to cognitive reserve in later life. Research on occupational complexity and cognitive function has focused on high‐income countries, where there is a large proportion of individuals with complex occupations. Thus, it is important to investigate this association in the context of low‐ and middle‐income countries where there is greater variance in occupation complexity and where there is a higher proportion of lower‐complexity occupations due to educational and other socioeconomic limitations. We use nationally representative data from the two largest countries in Latin America, Mexico and Brazil, to assess the association between main occupation complexity and cognitive function.