Link between later retirement and later onset of dementia
British scientists have found a significant link between later retirement age and later onset of dementia in men. The research is published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
This result came from an analysis of 382 men with probable Alzheimer’s by scientists from the Institute of Psychiatry and Cardiff University. Information based on education and employment was used to determine the effects of early life education, mid life employment and later life retirement on the age of onset of dementia.
A significant affect was found between later retirement age and later onset of dementia. The small sample of men make the other measures difficult to interpret, but they suggest that education or specific job type has a weaker link with dementia risk.
There could be a number of reasons why later retirement in men is linked with later onset of dementia. Men who retire early often do so because of health conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes, which increase your risk of dementia. It could also be that working helps keep your mind and body active, which may reduce risk of dementia.
Commenting on the new research on Alzheimer’s by the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London, Michelle Mitchell, charity director for Age Concern and Help the Aged said, “This research provides more scientific evidence that working is a crucial ingredient of that engaging and active lifestyle we know is key to healthy mental ageing.
“Ensuring a more comfortable retirement is not the only reason why older workers want to work for longer. Keeping their brains active and their social relationships fresh are often equally important”.
