Why Do Taxi Drivers Have a Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s?

Could navigating a city by memory help protect against Alzheimer’s? A fascinating Time Magazine article explores this question through the lens of London cab drivers—who appear to have a significantly lower risk of developing the disease.

Becoming a London taxi driver isn’t just about knowing the streets—it requires passing The Knowledge, an intense test of city navigation that can take years to master. Neuroscientists have long been intrigued by the impact of this mental challenge on brain plasticity. A 2000 study found that London cabbies had a larger hippocampus—the brain region linked to memory and navigation—compared to others. Given the hippocampus's connection to Alzheimer’s, researchers wondered: Could mentally demanding navigation actually help reduce the risk of the disease?

A new study analyzing death records revealed that taxi and ambulance drivers had a 56% lower risk of dying from Alzheimer’s than the general population. Interestingly, bus drivers, pilots, and ship captains—who follow fixed routes—didn’t show the same advantage. While the study doesn’t prove causation, it raises intriguing questions: Could lifelong navigation challenges help build cognitive resilience?

With no proven way to prevent Alzheimer’s, this research highlights the power of mental stimulation. Whether it’s avoiding GPS, solving puzzles, or learning a new skill, regularly challenging your brain may help keep it sharp.

Want to dive deeper into the science behind this discovery?

Read the full article here: https://time.com/7206222/taxi-drivers-alzheimers-disease-christopher-worsham-anupam-jena/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us