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The association of timing of retirement with cognitive performance in old age: the role of leisure activities after retirement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2016

Andreas Ihle ,
Catherine Grotz ,
Stéphane Adam ,
Michel Oris ,
Delphine Fagot ,
Rainer Gabriel  and
Matthias Kliegel
Andreas Ihle*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES–Overcoming vulnerability: life course perspectives
Catherine Grotz
Affiliation:
Psychology of Aging Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
Stéphane Adam
Affiliation:
Psychology of Aging Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
Michel Oris
Affiliation:
Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES–Overcoming vulnerability: life course perspectives
Delphine Fagot
Affiliation:
Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES–Overcoming vulnerability: life course perspectives
Rainer Gabriel
Affiliation:
Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES–Overcoming vulnerability: life course perspectives
Matthias Kliegel
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES–Overcoming vulnerability: life course perspectives
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Andreas Ihle, CIGEV, University of Geneva, route des Acacias 54, 1227 Carouge, Switzerland. Phone: +41 22 37 98308. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background:

The role of timing of retirement on cognitive functioning in old age is inconclusive so far. Therefore, the present study set out to investigate the association of timing of retirement with cognitive performance and its interplay with key correlates of cognitive reserve in a large sample of older adults.

Methods:

Two thousand two hundred and sixty three older adults served as sample for the present study. Different psychometric tests (Trail Making Test part A (TMT A), Trail Making Test part B (TMT B), Mill Hill) were administered. In addition, individuals were interviewed on their retirement, occupation, educational attainment, and regarding 18 leisure activities that have been carried out after retirement.

Results:

Earlier retirement (compared to retirement at legal age) was significantly associated with better performance in the TMT A, the TMT B, and the Mill Hill vocabulary test. Moderation analyses showed that in individuals with a moderate number of leisure activities in old age, earlier retirement was related to better cognitive performance, but not in those with a relatively large number of leisure activities. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that entering leisure activities as additional predictor significantly increased explained variance in the cognitive measures over and above all other investigated markers of cognitive reserve (i.e. occupation and education).

Conclusions:

Present data further corroborate the view that leisure activities even in old age may lead to further enrichment effects and thereby may be related to better cognitive functioning. The role of engaging in activities in the context of major life events such as retirement is discussed.

Keywords

cognitive reservecognitive functioningtiming of retirementcognitive level of occupationphysical demand of jobactivity engagementcognitive stimulationolder adults
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 28 , Issue 10 , October 2016 , pp. 1659 - 1669
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

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