Don't relax in retirement

Retirement increases the risk of dementia

Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+

But this is not a reason to raise the retirement age, we must act differently.

In response to the increase in life expectancy, the authorities of many developing countries were forced to carry out pension reforms. For example, in rural areas of China, where the elderly have traditionally been cared for by their relatives, there is now an official pension program designed to combat poverty among older generations.

However, the government's concern for the welfare of the elderly can have a negative effect, experts from The University of the State of New York at Binghamton, about whose work he tells Science Daily.

Article Nikolov & Adelman Do Pension Benefits Accelerate Cognitive Decline? Evidence from Rural China is published on the website of the IZA Institute of Labor Economics – VM.

They analyzed the impact of the Chinese pension program on the cognitive abilities of the elderly and came to the conclusion that it contributes to the development of dementia.

The risk of age-related decline in intelligence was significantly higher in areas covered by the pension program, and this effect is more pronounced in women.

The results of the study coincide with the conclusions that were previously made in higher-income regions, including the USA, the UK and EU countries. The authors concluded that such an effect may occur due to a decrease in mental and social activity after retirement.

At the same time, retirement has a positive effect on other aspects of health, for example, the quality of nutrition and sleep.

Of course, the authors do not call for the abolition of pension payments or a sharp increase in the retirement age. However, the authorities should be aware that providing an elderly person with decent payments is not enough. In order for him to remain healthy for many years, it is necessary to stimulate intellectual and social activity.

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