TIPS TO HELP YOU STAY SHARP

The enforced togetherness of giving up your job forever can be the biggest test many relationships face, so it’s vital to confess your true feelings When men retire, a classic scenario is their wives leave a list of jobs and husbands don’t do them

PEOPLE fear losing their mental edge once they no longer have the stimulus of work. Dementia, which affects one-in-14 people over the age of 65, is a major concern.

But the latest research gives reason to be optimistic. A healthy diet, social contact and mental stimulation can maintain or even improve brain health. Physical health also has a huge impact on mental health.

Leading nutritionist Dr Marilyn Glenville believes simple changes can help prevent dementia and even slow sufferers’ decline.

“Studies show people with the healthiest habits in mid-life onwards have a lower risk of dementia later, especially if they do three or more of these: regular exercise, avoid smoking, drink only in moderation, and maintain a healthy weight and diet.”

Physical exercise can have a hugely beneficial effect on brain health, and studies suggest it’s never too late to start.

Even people who have done only little exercise before their 60s can still see brain benefits once they undertake aerobic workouts and muscle strengthening.

Aerobic exercise can improve thinking, learning and reasoning. Muscle strengthening can have a big impact on memory and the brain’s ability to plan. And the more you do, the greater the benefit. to embark on the new phase together – if the age gap permits. However, research suggests it is easier if the wife retires first. When men retire first, the classic scenario is their wives leave a list of jobs and husbands don’t do them. Territory is another source of potential conflict. One study of spouses who hadn’t ever worked indicated they found adapting to the change in their relationship harder than their retiring partner. It’s inevitable the home-based partner has come to regard the domestic sphere as theirs. Even trivial stuff, like over-zealous surface-wiping, can feel like an intrusion.

The key is to negotiate a new way of organising space and routines. It’s better to be honest, rather than bottling up issues.

For example, if you would rather not have a chat every time you make a coffee, say so nicely. Your partner has no way of knowing whether you’re looking for company or a bit of peace. Similarly, it’s important to sit down and talk about ambitions and dreams. To start the discussion, you should each write a list of all the things you really want to do over the next 10 years. Try not to self-censure. At this stage it’s fine to be selfish. The time for compromise comes when you compare notes.

Do the same with a list of your top 10 holidays. Experts agree that the key to happy co-existence is finding a good balance between time apart and time together, maintaining independ