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Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

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Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#101

Post by hinkley »

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…

From what I hear my grandfather was in a downward spiral until he bought a new house, made some improvements, and then went back to work part time. He was pretty sassy until the big C got him.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#102

Post by ip26 »

JohnFen wrote: post #83
greenshackle2 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

There is a very strong genetic component to life span. Or, so I tell myself, as almost all of the men in my family have lived to be over 100 years old, so I have hope that I may do the same.

If it's not the genetics, then it's the life habits- which you can inherit too, so take note of how the men in your family lived :)

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#103

Post by Haga »

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…

That type of sitting happens when you ruined your hips and back with physical labor.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#104

Post by sbierwagen »

crooked-v wrote: post #63
cft wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Correlation is not causation.

Brain volume by age: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316307676/figure/fi...

Various forms of intelligence by age: https://miro.medium.com/max/1038/1*ccb0bgIqgebwJWTdMGMXXQ.pn...

If this correlation isn't causation, then I'm not sure what is.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#105

Post by JohnFen »

ip26 wrote: post #102
JohnFen wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a very strong genetic component to life span. Or, so I tell myself, as almost all of the men in my family have lived to be over 100 years old, so I have hope that I may do the same.

If it's not the genetics, then it's the life habits- which you can inherit too, so take note of how the men in your family lived :)

They were largely hard working, hard drinking, hard smoking guys -- loggers, railroad workers, etc.

Alas, that's not the lifestyle for me.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#106

Post by gibolt »

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…

You should send him exactly what you wrote here. He probably needs someone he cares about to challenge the comfort he has accepted. Depending on his personality, it could increase the time you have left to spend with him

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#108

Post by asveikau »

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…

This sounds like a long complaint about your dad veiled as commentary about the article. I suggest you take him out to lunch and have a good time, without spending too much time wondering how much he is or isn't trying anymore.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#109

Post by draw_down »

asveikau wrote: post #108
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…

This sounds like a long complaint about your dad veiled as commentary about the article. I suggest you take him out to lunch and have a good time, without spending too much time wondering how much he is or isn't trying anymore.

Come on.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#110

Post by JamesBarney »

The much more likely cause is people who are aging poorly are more likely to retire.

My grandmother retired then experienced sharp mental decline. For a long time I thought her retirement caused the sharp mental decline. But looking back at it after learning about dementia, and talking with other family members she retired because she was experiencing mental decline which was the predecessor to dementia.

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