OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether midlife forgetfulness was prospectively associated with changes in social relations at work (SRW) among occupationally active individuals in Denmark.

METHODS: We analyzed data of 2,339 men and women participating in the first (1990) and second (1995) survey of the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study, responding to questions on working environment, SRW and forgetfulness. We used multiple linear regression analysis while adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS: At baseline (1990), 517 (22.1%) study participants were categorized as forgetful. Forgetfulness was prospectively associated with a decline in one of the investigated items reflecting a negative aspect of SRW (experiencing teasing, regression coefficient = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03-0.11), while no association was observed with positive aspects of SRW.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings did not support the hypothesis that memory problems such as midlife forgetfulness negatively affect SRW.