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Alzheimer's disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers (2024)

bmj.com

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Re: Alzheimer's disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers (2024)

#61

Post by Mordisquitos »

rjrjrjrj wrote: post #55
praptak wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a similar vein, to drive a black taxi in London you have to pass The Knowledge of London exam which requires becoming a human routing database for over twenty thousand streets and landmarks.

Made me think of this as well. If I remember the story I read correctly, they just call it "The Knowledge". What a great name.

There is also a very good TV comedy-drama film of 1979 about some characters working towards passing the Knowledge exam. The film was, of course, called The Knowledge:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Knowledge_(film)

It's available on YouTube (potential geoblocking notwithstanding):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSAAB1ZmudY

Re: Alzheimer's disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers (2024)

#62

Post by Mordisquitos »

matsemann wrote: post #54
fn-mote wrote: post #2

The rate of fatality for Alzheimer’s among ambulance and taxi drivers is 3x lower than the general population. This is not observed in other transportation-related careers. The connection is believed to be the spatial reasoning involved in routing. No causative link is suggested.

Will we see a drop in alzheimers when the open world gaming population reaches that age? I mean, I can not just navigate my city, but multiple worlds!

And/or will we see an increase in Alzheimer's disease amongst Google-Maps dependent users? Maybe we will see a bimodal split in both directions.

Re: Alzheimer's disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers (2024)

#63

Post by [deleted] »

jimmar wrote: post #9

One of the first signs that a somebody has Alzheimer's is that they'll get lost. E.g., they've been attending church on Thursdays nights at the same chapel for 15 years, but suddenly they forgot how to get home after a recent service. Part of the reason for the findings in the current study is that people quit those professions when they feel themselves starting to struggle.

[deleted]

Re: Alzheimer's disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers (2024)

#64

Post by psyclobe »

jimmar wrote: post #9

One of the first signs that a somebody has Alzheimer's is that they'll get lost. E.g., they've been attending church on Thursdays nights at the same chapel for 15 years, but suddenly they forgot how to get home after a recent service. Part of the reason for the findings in the current study is that people quit those professions when they feel themselves starting to struggle.

Yeah my mom would slowly forget how to get to my house, it was sad she would always try but just not quite get it... She eventual died of Alzheimer's a some years later...

Re: Alzheimer's disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers (2024)

#65

Post by tsoukase »

That's interesting. It's one of a few studies that supports a mental functioning, if it's lifelong and of specific type, prevents nerve cell degeneration and dying. If the theory that mind inactivity causes dementia is true, it will revolutionise it's prevention with lifelong adult training. AI could help immensely in this field keeping the community mentally occupied. I am waiting for a solid study measuring that a stress free group (either due to personal or professional status) beats all the stressful ones. We know it happens but it's nice to have evidence. Which group has obviously less stress today?

Re: Alzheimer's disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers (2024)

#67

Post by [deleted] »

matsemann wrote: post #54
fn-mote wrote: post #2

The rate of fatality for Alzheimer’s among ambulance and taxi drivers is 3x lower than the general population. This is not observed in other transportation-related careers. The connection is believed to be the spatial reasoning involved in routing. No causative link is suggested.

Will we see a drop in alzheimers when the open world gaming population reaches that age? I mean, I can not just navigate my city, but multiple worlds!

[deleted]

Re: Alzheimer's disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers (2024)

#68

Post by thereticent »

ETH_start wrote: post #51
thereticent wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had the same thought, but occupation on the birth certificate is the "usual" occupation the person held.

death certificate?

Just keeping you on your toes?

Re: Alzheimer's disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers (2024)

#69

Post by pineaux »

emmelaich wrote: post #26
fn-mote wrote: post #2

The rate of fatality for Alzheimer’s among ambulance and taxi drivers is 3x lower than the general population. This is not observed in other transportation-related careers. The connection is believed to be the spatial reasoning involved in routing. No causative link is suggested.

What are some possibilities? 1. Those with spatial reasoning are less likely to develop Alzheimers 2. Ambo and Taxi drivers are less likely (for some reason) to develop Alzheimers AND their work leads them to develop good spatial reasoning. Any others? One consideration is that those with jobs requiring long periods of concentration drink less. Among other things.

I haven't read the article, but what if:

The problems arrizing from alzheimers are so problematic, that the cabdrivers / ambulance drivers drive themselves to death before they enter the stats as alzheimers patients?

A bit like the famous bullet holes in planes from ww2

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