The ability to think quickly, react on the fly, and mentally map complex routes might do more than get drivers to their destination—it could also help protect their brains. According to a new study published in BMJ, taxi and ambulance drivers appear to have a lower risk of dying from Alzheimer’s disease compared to those in other occupations.

The Brain’s Navigation Center and Alzheimer’s

“The same part of the brain that’s involved in creating spatial maps—skills we rely on to navigate our environment—is also one of the first areas impacted by Alzheimer’s disease,” explained lead researcher Dr. Vishal Patel, a surgical resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Patel and his team hypothesized that occupations requiring intense spatial and navigational processing—like taxi and ambulance driving—could strengthen these brain regions and, in turn, reduce Alzheimer’s vulnerability. However, the same benefit was not observed in jobs that rely on fixed routes, such as bus driving or piloting airplanes.

The Study’s Findings

Researchers analyzed death records from nearly 9 million individuals across 443 occupations, all of whom died between 2020 and 2022. Overall, about 4% of these deaths were attributed to Alzheimer’s disease.

Yet, among drivers whose jobs demanded active, real-time navigation, the rates were remarkably lower:

  • 1% of taxi drivers died from Alzheimer’s.
  • 0.7% of ambulance drivers died from the disease.

In contrast, Alzheimer’s accounted for 3% of deaths among bus drivers and 4% among pilots, highlighting a stark difference. After adjusting for other factors, taxi and ambulance drivers had the lowest proportion of Alzheimer’s-related deaths out of all professions studied.

“Our findings highlight the possibility that neurological changes, particularly in the hippocampus, may account for the lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease among taxi and ambulance drivers,” said senior researcher Dr. Anupam Jena, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Why the Hippocampus Matters

The hippocampus—often called the brain’s navigation center—plays a critical role in forming memories, spatial awareness, and processing emotions. It’s one of the first regions impacted in Alzheimer’s disease, leading to memory loss and disorientation. Occupations that regularly challenge the hippocampus, such as taxi and ambulance driving, may help keep this area of the brain active and resilient.

Not Cause-and-Effect, But Insightful

The researchers were careful to note that their findings are observational, meaning they cannot prove that navigating complex routes directly protects against Alzheimer’s.

“These results are not conclusive but serve as hypothesis-generating,” said Dr. Jena. “They suggest we should explore how occupational demands influence cognitive health and whether certain mental activities could be protective.”

Looking Ahead

While this study offers intriguing insights, more research is needed to understand the relationship between brain-stimulating careers and Alzheimer’s risk. If confirmed, the findings could support the development of cognitive training programs that mimic the mental demands of navigation, offering new pathways for Alzheimer’s prevention.

For now, the study raises a compelling question: Could the brain’s equivalent of navigating a maze every day help keep cognitive decline at bay?