A new study on the Alzheimer's front shows a correlation between putting off retirement and reduced risk of Alzheimer's and Dementia (two different diseases, both affecting [mostly] older brains, neither one pleasant).
The News Reports are telling people that working longer will help prevent Alzheimer's and Dementia.
Uh, that's not what the study showed.
The study showed a CORRELATION not a cause and effect.
What's the difference? I'm glad you asked!
Correlation means that two things go together. Like grey hair and grandchildren. Most people with grandchildren have grey hair. Do grandchildren cause grey hair? Does grey hair cause grandchildren? No and no. They just happen to occur at the same time. Both tend to occur as one gets older.
That is what the study showed. People who work longer tend to have less Alzheimer's and Dementia. This COULD be because keeping your brain active reduces your risk of Alzheimer's and Dementia or it could be that people at low risk for these diseases feel more energetic and alert and choose to work longer because they worry they'd be bored at home.
So what CAN you do? Stay active, physically and mentally. A healthy circulatory system includes good blood flow to the brain and good blood flow to the brain reduces risk of Dementia (and possibly Alzheimer's - that relationship is less clear).
Mentally active? That's easy, too. Read. Seriously. People who read a lot tend to have less loss of cognitive (mental) function as they age. Do the crossword puzzle. Play Kenken on your computer. Learn something new. You don't even have to take a college class. Learning a new skill also requires brain power. If you belong to a church join the choir, take up sewing, photography, go to your local history society and learn about local history. Anything you do that is NEW exercises your brain.
And now, for the NSA and because this is the internet, a picture of a cat.
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