This Is the Adverse Effect Early Retirement Can Have on Your Brain, Study RevealsThe benefits might not always outweigh the costs.
ByAmanda Breen•
Many people wish they couldretire early— but it might not always be in their best interest.
A new study out ofBinghamton Universitypublished in the peer-reviewedJournal of Economic Behavior and Organizationfound thatearly retirementcan cause "faster cognitive decline among the elderly,"Business Insiderreported.
Related:17 Habits of Self-Made Millionaires Who Retired Early
The Binghamton researchers studied Chinese data on millions of older citizens who'd taken pension benefits toretire earlyand compared their outcomes with those who remained in the workforce.
Thepandemicled to early retirement for millions of Americans (whether by choice or not), perThe New York Times, but by April 2022, nearly 64% of adults between the ages of 55 and 64 were working — roughly the same rate as in February 2020.
Although those who didn't return to work might enjoy better physical health, includingimproved sleepand a reduction in alcohol consumption, they're also at risk for reduced social engagement, mental activity and, as a result, more rapid cognitive decline, the study revealed.
Related:4 Things You Need to Think About Before You Retire Early
"The kinds of things that matter and determine better health might simply be very different from the kinds of things that matter for better cognition among the elderly," lead researcher Plamen Nikolovsaid in a statement. "Social engagement and connectedness may simply be the single most powerful factors for cognitive performance in old age."
