I’m A Memory Coach: This Is The No. 1 Mistake That Leads To Cognitive Decline
But it's not so straightforward.
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Beauty & Health Editor
Beauty & Health Editor
Hannah Frye is the Beauty & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including beauty, women’s health, mental health, sustainability, social media trends, and more. She previously worked for Almost 30, a top-rated health and wellness podcast. In her current role, Hannah reports on the latest beauty trends and innovations, women’s health research, brain health news, and plenty more.
Image by McKinsey Jordan / Stocksy August 02, 2024 We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links. Working on your memory, and overall brain health for that matter is one of those self-improvement tasks that doesn’t seem essential—until it becomes something you have to worry about. While it may not sound interesting to everyone, working on your memory in a preventative manner (no matter your age) is crucial for maximizing your brain’s longevity. And while mind teasers are great, you should also know what to avoid for the sake of a healthier brain. 
The link between retirement & cognitive decline
Let’s be clear: The mistake here is not retiring in general—you deserve time to rest, relax, and enjoy your life without the pressure of a 9 to 5, if you please. However, Kwik explains that retirement from learning can be problematic.
"Often when people retire, their minds also retire, and their body is not far behind," Kwik says. Research backs up his claim: One study1 analyzed data from 3,253 people who died during an eight-year period. Of participants who passed, “People with the highest baseline purpose in life showed lower mortality risk compared to those with the lowest purpose,” researchers note. People often attach purpose to their work, and purpose is crucial for brain and overall longevity.
Another recent study done in rural China2 analyzed the impact a new pension program had on cognitive decline. Researchers essentially wanted to know if a lack of work was associated with an accelerated decline of brain health.
The results? While having a job isn’t necessarily linked with better brain health, the factors that tend to come with employment do, especially social engagement. Specifically, researchers associate cognitive deterioration in late adulthood to the reduction in social engagement, volunteering, and other activities fostering mental acuity.
“We detect the most substantial impact of the program on delayed recall, a cognition measure linked to the onset of dementia,” they note.
As we mentioned earlier, these studies aren't saying that working a full time job forever is beneficial—so don’t force yourself to clock in when you’re 80 years old. However, it does show that the advantages of a steady job (like social engagement and a sense of purpose) will have a positive impact on your brain health and memory.
That said, you can reap these benefits and continue learning in some form or fashion, be it a hobby, class, part-time job, volunteer work, etc.
What to do about it
Retirement gives you more time to focus on the people and activities you love, so use this time to your advantage! Below, a few ideas to encourage blossoming brain health without necessarily keeping a full-time job forever:
The takeaway
While retirement itself isn’t directly related to cognitive decline, there may be a lack of learning and social interaction.
To mitigate this risk and still enjoy your years of retirement, make learning a priority by taking a class, volunteering, playing sports and games, and prioritizing nutrients for optimal brain health.
