Working Part-Time Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults
New research suggests individuals who continue working a few days a week into their mid-seventies experience a significantly reduced likelihood of developing dementia compared to those who retire fully or remain in full-time employment.
Pensioners who maintain part-time employment are nearly 40 percent less likely to develop dementia, according to recent research. The study indicates that the incurable condition is less prevalent in individuals working a couple of days per week compared to those who retire completely, potentially due to sustained cognitive stimulation and social interaction.
Nearly one million people in the UK currently live with dementia, with projections estimating this number will rise to 1.4 million by 2040. Prior studies have suggested that individuals who cease working at retirement age, typically 66, may face an increased risk of dementia because they lose the daily engagement and mental stimulation that can help stave off cognitive decline.
Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis investigated whether continuing part-time work until age 75 could mitigate this risk. Their analysis, which tracked nearly 14,000 individuals, found that those working part-time into their mid-seventies had a 38 percent lower risk of dementia. This was in comparison to individuals who remained in full-time employment beyond retirement age or stopped working altogether in their 50s or 60s.
The study's authors noted that part-time work appears less detrimental to brain health than either full-time employment or complete retirement. In a report published in the online medical journal medRxiv, they stated, "Compared with full retirement, part-time work may help maintain cognitive stimulation, social interaction and daily structure. And compared with full-time work, it may provide greater time for rest, leisure, and other health-promoting activities."