Tied to the desk all day? Your brain will thank you for it...

DESK jobs keep people mentally sharp while physical labour increases the risk of memory problems, a study has found.

A lack of physical activity has long been thought to lead to major health conditions, including problems with cognition.

But researchers have found sitting at a desk may actually be beneficial for our brains. This is because office-based work is more mentally challenging and can protect against cognitive decline.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge tested the mental abilities of 8,500 working adults over a 12-year period.

They found participants who had a desk-based job performed better at cognitive tests regardless of their education. The study also found that those who worked in an office environment throughout the 12 years were more likely to have cognitive test scores in the top 10%. But those in manual work were three times more likely to have poor cognition.

Participants were tested on their memory, attention, visual processing speed and reading-based IQ. They also filled out questionnaires to determine their physical activity. After an 12 years, they were invited back for the same tests.

Shabina Hayat, from the university’s department of public health and primary care, said: ‘People who have less active jobs – typically office-based desk jobs – performed better at cognitive tests regardless of their education. This suggests because desk jobs tend to be more mentally challenging than manual occupations, they may offer protection against cognitive decline.’