Education, but not occupation, is associated with cognitive impairment: The role of cognitive reserve in a sample from a low‐to‐middle‐income country

Abstract Introduction Education, and less frequently occupation, has been associated with lower dementia risk in studies from high‐income countries. We aimed to investigate the association of cognitive impairment with education and occupation in a low‐middle‐income country sample. Methods In this cross‐sectional study, cognitive function was assessed by the Clinical Dementia Rating sum of boxes (CDR‐SOB). We investigated the association of occupation complexity and education with CDR‐SOB using adjusted linear regression models for age, sex, and neuropathological lesions. Results In 1023 participants, 77% had < 5 years of education, and 56% unskilled occupations. Compared to the group without education, those with formal education had lower CDR‐SOB (1–4 years: = ‐0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = –1.85; –0.14, P = .02; ≥5 years: = –1.42, 95% CI = –2.47; –0.38, P = .008). Occupation complexity and demands were unrelated to cognition. Discussion Education, but not occupation, was related to better cognitive abilities independent of the presence of neuropathological insults.