Does early retirement add risk to memory loss, dementia?

William Atkins
Wednesday, 20 May 2009 18:09

Science - Health

According to a recent British study, retiring earlier, rather than later, in life increases the likelihood of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, a Finnish study shows that working more than normal is risky for elderly in getting dementia.


Researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry, from King’s College London, England, studied 382 men with “probable” dementia as part of a larger study of 1,320 people with dementia.

They did not find any association between the increased risk of dementia and either education or employment. However, they did see an association between an earlier onset of dementia and earlier retirement than normal.

According to the May 19, 2009 King’s College London article “Later retirement 'delays Alzheimer's',” people who work beyond normal retirement age have a decreased risk from dementia.

The researchers contend that this lessened risk of dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease, is due to a more active life at work rather than when one retires.

When people remain working, according to the results of their study, they are better able to “stave off dementia” and maintain better mental abilities.

Simon Lovestone, one of the authors of a paper, stated, "The intellectual stimulation that older people gain from the workplace may prevent a decline in mental abilities, thus keeping people above the threshold for dementia for longer. Much more research is needed if we are to understand how to effectively delay, or even prevent, dementia." [King’s College London]

The research was published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

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