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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

#131

Post by zerr »

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…

Another way to think about it - it is a kind of self-defence mechanism against bad thoughts in old people - imagine how hard it would be if they could fully realise that tomorrow, next day or year is the last one for them.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#132

Post by loeg »

neogodless wrote: post #17

It'd be interesting to better understand the control for this research. The main premise here is that "those receiving pension benefits" (i.e. no longer working) have faster cognitive decline. But is there a correlation between the kind of work you did and receiving a pension? Perhaps the word "pension" means something a bit different here, but in U.S. English, we usually use it to mean a company-sponsored retirement…

Could also be confounding cause and effect (if not correlation and causation). Maybe people with medical/mental decline issues retire early at higher rates than background.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#134

Post by ekianjo »

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.

Why would it be different from physical decline? If you dont keep exercising in your older years you will decline much faster.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#135

Post by ekianjo »

jedberg wrote: post #78
qnsi wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesnt, but it sometimes can be a big clue. What other factors can explain, that old people dont make so many breakthroughs? (If hes correct)

Lack of testosterone because they already have a mate. There is a lot of science to back this up. That getting married and/or having kids is what marks a man's decline in innovative output, because they no longer have to impress potential mates. But it's also correlative and not causative, and assumes most men make the breakthroughs, which has been traditionally true but almost certainly because of some other factor…

Because they no longer have to impress mates? Do you really think the world is explained by a single variable?

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#136

Post by thematt »

I've been wondering lately about whether video games will have any impact on this for future retirees. Anecdotally, I think today's teens/20/30/40 year-olds spend more time playing video games (whether solo or as part of their social interaction) than the current generation of retirees. Theoretically that may be one more tool to keep someone's brain sharp after they retire.

Have there been any studies about video games and their effect on maintaining cognitive function?

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#137

Post by jedberg »

ekianjo wrote: post #135
jedberg wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lack of testosterone because they already have a mate. There is a lot of science to back this up. That getting married and/or having kids is what marks a man's decline in innovative output, because they no longer have to impress potential mates. But it's also correlative and not causative, and assumes most men make the breakthroughs, which has been traditionally true but almost certainly because of some other factor…

Because they no longer have to impress mates? Do you really think the world is explained by a single variable?

Of course not. But the point is there are many possible explanations other than "aging" to explain lack of breakthroughs in older people.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#138

Post by sbierwagen »

bcrosby95 wrote: post #115
sbierwagen wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Your chart seems to indicate software development related intelligence peaks somewhere between 40-60. Given this, why do software companies like young people so much?

To steal from patio11, an employment contract is both payment for current services and also an option on future services-- hiring people is hard, and you want to keep them around.[1] A 60 year old is less valuable since they're more likely to retire than a 30 year old.

1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21177759

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#139

Post by Spooky23 »

bcrosby95 wrote: post #115
sbierwagen wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Your chart seems to indicate software development related intelligence peaks somewhere between 40-60. Given this, why do software companies like young people so much?

More work, less pay.

People between 40-60 tend to have things they care about outside of work at higher rates.

Re: Early Retirement May Speed Up Cognitive Decline: Study

#140

Post by BEEdwards »

generationP wrote: post #113
cortesoft wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am a senior software engineer and I do the "google instead of type the domain name" thing intentionally every time... I want to be sure I don't mistype the domain. It is not semi-unconscious... it is very much intentional.

Unless, of course, you're looking for Sci-hub or Library Genesis, in which case Google will suggest you every thinkable misspelling of the domain but the right one :)

But if you type it in your address bar and search it, they're the top result, which is the point.
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