Many people wish they could retire earlier, but that may not always be in their best interest.
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A new study out Binghamton University published in the peer reviewed Journal of economic behavior and organization found that early retirement can cause “more rapid cognitive decline in the elderly.” Business Insider reported.
Related: 17 habits of self-made millionaires who retired early
The Binghamton researchers studied Chinese data on millions of older citizens who had taken retirement benefits to retire early and compared their results with those who remained in work.
The pandemic led to early retirement of millions of Americans (voluntarily or otherwise), per The New York Timesbut by April 2022, nearly 64% of adults aged 55 to 64 were working – about the same as in February 2020.
While those who did not return to work may enjoy better physical health, including better sleep and less alcohol consumption, they are also at risk for decreased social engagement, mental activity and, as a result, more rapid cognitive decline, the study revealed.
Related: 4 things to consider before retiring early
“The kinds of things that matter and determine better health may just be very different from the kinds of things that matter for better cognition in the elderly,” said lead researcher Plamen Nikolov. said in a statement. “Social engagement and connectedness are perhaps the most powerful determinants of cognitive performance in old age.”
