Study Into the Possible Effect(s) of Retirement on Memory / Cognitive Impairment (NHS Choices / European Journal of Epidemiology)

Summary

An epidemiological study of civil servants who took part in the Whitehall II Study found that while all categories of cognition function tend to decline over time, verbal memory, in particular, appears to decline at a rate 38% faster following retirement.

“ …these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that retirement accelerates the decline in verbal memory function. This study points to the benefits of cognitively stimulating activities associated with employment that could benefit older people’s memory”.

A recent NHS Choices Behind the Headlines critical appraisal picks apart this research and helps to disentangle some of the issues and underlying uncertainties.

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Reference

Retirement linked to a decline in memory. London: NHS Choices; Behind the Headlines, January 23^rd 2018.

This relates to:

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Reference

Xue, B. Cadar, D. Fleischmann, M. [et al] (2017). Effect of retirement on cognitive function: the Whitehall II cohort study. European Journal of Epidemiology. December 26^th 2017. Epub ahead of print].