Back
davidlerner.com > Retirement Planning  > Dementia and Retirement

Dementia and Retirement

Retiring should be a relaxed time when you can enjoy your life and all that you have worked hard for. It is intended to be a joyful time spent surrounded by the ones you love, doing the things you want, rather than the tasks that have to be done to earn money. Your time is supposed to be spent at leisure and your last years lived to the maximum.

 

While that may be true for some folks, many find themselves at odds with this philosophy. Some people find that their cognitive function declines once they retire. Researchers believe that retiring early could lead to a risk of dementia. The CDC defines dementia as a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. Studies show that a duration spent in retirement has an association with a bigger decline in verbal memory.

 

Rafe Klein Senior Vice President of David Lerner Associates says, “Planning for retirement isn’t just about your financial security, it’s also about your quality of life. You need to plan for healthcare both physically and mentally so that you can enjoy your retirement rather than dealing with health issues as you get older.”

 

Studies have uncovered evidence that suggests that cognitive engagement is associated with better cognitive function. This means that if you keep your mind and brain engaged and active you stay mentally healthier than you would if you just stopped solving problems or using your brainpower every day. The old saying goes “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”

 

Your brain acts like a muscle and if you don’t work out it doesn’t perform as well. Keeping your brain active by interacting with others in classes or activities is recommended to stave off any cognitive decline.

 

 

3 Ways to Stave Off Dementia in Retirement

 

  1. Work longer or part-time. Retirement can have consequences that are not as enjoyable as an improved round of golf or time spent with family and grandkids. Working may provide protection against cognitive decline.
  2. Playing card games. 55 percent of Americans learned a new card game this year. Euchre and Blackjack are two of the best card games for keeping the brain active and engaged.  Those Euchre tournaments could stave off dementia by as much as five years.
  3. Doing puzzles. You could do crossword puzzles at a level that is a slight challenge for you or play online puzzle games, like WordMeister of Lexigo. Another easy way to get your brain working is to watch TV shows like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.

 

The more demand placed upon your intellect over the years the more you could stand to lose when it suddenly ends. Going from overcoming obstacles constantly and thinking fast every day, to a slower pace of life could affect your later-life cognitive function, so make sure to keep your brain and mind active.

 

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

Material contained in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be used in connection with the evaluation of any investments offered by David Lerner Associates, Inc. This material does not constitute an offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered in connection with the purchase or sale of securities.

To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. 

Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances.

These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable– we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.

David Lerner Associates does not provide tax or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances. Member FINRA & SIPC

[1]

https://greensboro.com/study-playing-euchre-and-other-card-games-could-stave-off-alzheimers/article_262ed7b2-0ff1-11ec-a91d-1f4fd20af395.html

Your Investment Counselor

(ICname)
Skip to content