Work hard, stay sharp. Delaying retirement may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, says a new French study.
Researchers analyzed close to half a million health and insurance records of workers who were old enough to retire for an average of 12 years, and found that for every year the workers kept hustling, their risk of dementia dropped by 3 percent.
No need to chain yourself to your cubicle for life, though. The subjects in the study were self-employed, which usually means less stress and a more pleasant work environment. The takeaway is that engaging your brain can keep you mentally strong well into old age—and working is just one more way to do so.
It makes sense; your brain needs exercise, just like your body. “I suspect that, on average, those who elect to retire early or at the usual retirement age are less cognitively and physically fit, on average, than those who continue working,” says brain-aging expert Mary Mittelman, Ph.D., of NYU Langone Medical Center.
Previous research supports that idea: A study in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that continuing to punch the clock post-retirement leads to better physical and mental health than just resting on your 401k, and 2010 research from the University of Chicago shows that people who have something to do—anything to do, even a pointless task—are happier than people who sit idly.
Nearing retirement? Consider filling up your time with volunteer work. (Bonus benefit: Giving back helps you live longer!) And if you’re far off from 65, strengthen your brain for later in life by cracking open a book now.
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