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Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

studyfinds.org

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Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#51

Post by dexwiz »

greenshackle2 wrote: post #47
dexwiz wrote: post #14

Sitting around May Speed Up Cognitive Decline. Both my Grandfathers retired shortly before seventy. One sat down in his Chair and did not get up. He ignored his health, and passed within 10 years. The other is highly active in his community and church, still gardens, and travels constantly. He is in his mid 80s with no sign of slowing down. Barring a major health incident, he will live well into his 90s like his moth…

One of my grandpas was an alcoholic, did not much more than sit around, drink beer, and go out to eat pizza and roasted chicken about once a week for the last couple of decades of his life. He lived until 100. The other had one of his lungs shot by tuberculosis, but despite that, smoked his entire life. Not particularly active either after retirement. He lived until his late 80s (EDIT: just checked, 85 actually). EDI…

I envy your genetics.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#52

Post by bigYahnz »

zik wrote: post #49
monster_group wrote: post #9

Not only early retirement but any kind of retirement that gets the retiree in a mode that they don't have to try anymore will result in cognitive decline. I am seeing this in my dad who has been retired for ten years now. Throughout his work life he was a sharp hard working banker. Now he uses his age and retirement as an excuse for not trying. Just yesterday he wanted me to order something for him from Amazon. I tol…

There's no doubt that people decline cognitively in their old age. I don't think this study's saying that all cognitive decline is due to retirement. People get old and their bodies and brains deteriorate. To my mind the question is whether the rate of decline can be reduced by keeping mentally active.

Wouldn't you expect a slower physical decline from someone who has stayed active all their life? Wouldn't expect any real difference with the mind. I've overstayed my welcome at my current employer by a couple of years. I haven't had an actual challenge in a while. I feel like I am getting worse at programming. Not better.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#53

Post by aj7 »

radicalbyte wrote: post #28
mark_l_watson wrote: post #4

I hope not, I recently retired. Still, the idea makes some sense. In retirement, I try to read one paper a day (usually deep learning, PGM, or classic AI), play at least one game of Go and Chess, do some recreational programming, and read. But, I don’t work into a state of brain-tiredness anymore like I used to at work.

Do you exercise? Lifting weights regularly (3 x week) and getting some light cardio every day will help keep your body strong into your retirement. It dramatically reduces the chance of getting injured by a fall and will keep you healthly and happy longer. I'm approaching 40 and have built it into my schedule after several years of doing little and I'm feeling great for it. Next year we're moving to a large house and…

You have plenty of time to develop bad habits.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#54

Post by sp332 »

RaiseProfits wrote: post #30
monster_group wrote: post #9

Not only early retirement but any kind of retirement that gets the retiree in a mode that they don't have to try anymore will result in cognitive decline. I am seeing this in my dad who has been retired for ten years now. Throughout his work life he was a sharp hard working banker. Now he uses his age and retirement as an excuse for not trying. Just yesterday he wanted me to order something for him from Amazon. I tol…

To be fair, working with text is really hard on mobile and has regressed a long way from general purpose computers like the pc. To undo you have to shake the fucking thing, and text selection takes time and patience (if you can select the text at all!)

Ok but sharing is easier. Click the share button and it will put the link into email or SMS or... Dropbox, whatever you got lying around on your phone.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#55

Post by ars »

dexwiz wrote: post #14

Sitting around May Speed Up Cognitive Decline. Both my Grandfathers retired shortly before seventy. One sat down in his Chair and did not get up. He ignored his health, and passed within 10 years. The other is highly active in his community and church, still gardens, and travels constantly. He is in his mid 80s with no sign of slowing down. Barring a major health incident, he will live well into his 90s like his moth…

> One sat down .... The other is highly active

I've noticed this kind of thing as well, but I'm really worried that we have cause and effect backwards.

The one who sat and did nothing did that because of poor health, rather than poor health because he sat.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#56

Post by sachdevap »

whatshisface wrote: post #50
sachdevap wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a reason you believe that the causality should be reversed? The article suggests they did tests post retirement and observed the rate of decline.

Someone with health declining over a long period will retire and withdraw from everything, and then later on be tested to find that their health has been declining I think you will find that most retired people are dead, just by virtue of the fact that all dead people retire!

The study talks of rate of subsequent cognitive decline post retirement. There's no fixed state, which once reached, people start retiring. I think the study does control for reverse causality. It is not a correlational study.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#57

Post by ct0 »

sachdevap wrote: post #36
all_blue_chucks wrote: post #18

Better headline: Cognitive Decline Prompts Earlier Retirement

Is there a reason you believe that the causality should be reversed? The article suggests they did tests post retirement and observed the rate of decline.

Could be stated that overworking early in life may lead to cognitive decline post retirement.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#58

Post by cft »

zik wrote: post #49
monster_group wrote: post #9

Not only early retirement but any kind of retirement that gets the retiree in a mode that they don't have to try anymore will result in cognitive decline. I am seeing this in my dad who has been retired for ten years now. Throughout his work life he was a sharp hard working banker. Now he uses his age and retirement as an excuse for not trying. Just yesterday he wanted me to order something for him from Amazon. I tol…

There's no doubt that people decline cognitively in their old age. I don't think this study's saying that all cognitive decline is due to retirement. People get old and their bodies and brains deteriorate. To my mind the question is whether the rate of decline can be reduced by keeping mentally active.

People's cognitive decline statistically starts as early as 40. You can see that from the age distribution of biggest discoveries in physics and mathematics. You can also see that from the HR policies of the software companies.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#59

Post by miketuritzin »

mark_l_watson wrote: post #5
cevn wrote: post #2

Anecdotally, my grandfather is 92 or so and still works as a journalist (reduced hours). He is still super sharp and does yoga every day. Blows my mind.

My Dad is 98, retired when he was about 80. He is still very sharp mentally, but has taken on hobbies like video production and 3D animation. Hopefully hobbies count towards brain health.

There's nothing special about a job! If anything, I'd believe that someone who had the drive to do challenging activities on their own (and engage socially with others) is doing more for their mind and body than someone clocking in and out at a boring job.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#60

Post by 2muchcoffeeman »

monster_group wrote: post #9

Not only early retirement but any kind of retirement that gets the retiree in a mode that they don't have to try anymore will result in cognitive decline. I am seeing this in my dad who has been retired for ten years now. Throughout his work life he was a sharp hard working banker. Now he uses his age and retirement as an excuse for not trying. Just yesterday he wanted me to order something for him from Amazon. I tol…

I guess this is why you should work less hard and do more to cultivate hobbies. I can’t imagine retiring and doing nothing. So many projects.
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