Retirement may be the death of you

ONE OF the most troubling findings about ageing has to do with what happens to your health after you retire.

Although some people find that their bodies and minds thrive in the absence of the stress of work, about 10 to 25 percent experience a significant drop in their health and well-being.

In trying to explain the different health trajectories of retirees, scientists are increasingly focusing on social factors.

The theory is that social engagement or isolation can affect a person’s cognitive functioning and happiness, which in turn can affect their overall health.

In a study published in BMJ Open last week, researchers looked at 848 people 50 or older living in Britain. Half were retiring, while the other half, of similar age and health, were not.

The study found that people with a good quality of life before retirement were more likely to have a similar quality of life after retirement.

“These findings not only identify a new locus for retirement research but also suggest a new avenue for practical intervention,” wrote Niklas K Steffens, a researcher from the University of Queensland in Australia, and his co- authors. – The Washington Post