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Two groups tend to retire at or before age 62, those that are financially secure, and those that were underprepared and forced to retire via being layed off, bought out, or already had health issues. Those that were unprepared and forced into retirement would have significant stress, even if they were not already ill.
I doubt those that are financially secure and retire early are the group of early retirees that are passing in statistically significant numbers, while the later group probably over represents early retirees in early mortality.
As stated above correlation does not equal causation. My bet is high stress, illness, or both are the actual causes of early mortality, not the act of retiring early.
Perhaps the people retiring early did so because they felt their body deteriorating. The healthy ones kept working.
Perhaps in certain cases. And of course there will always be outliers, those who beat the odds. However, research has now been conducted which not only shows correlation but causation as well. Here is one such study:
One can always question the research. But I think there is something a bit more obvious to consider here. Like the body, the mind can deteriorate if not exercised or even stressed at times. The old adage 'use it or lose it' not only applies to our bodies but our minds as well. Of course, retirement does not have to lead to an inactive body and mind. However, there can be tendencies or trends within society as a whole for that very thing to happen, statistically speaking.
From now 96 y/o Charles Eugster's website regarding retirement. I think us 'youngsters' could learn a thing or two from this old man: http://www.charleseugster.net/work
I think he is on to something.
Derek
Last edited by MtnSurfer; 12-12-2015 at 01:47 PM..
From what I observed, people who retire and do nothing are the first to go, or go senile. The key to staying healthy IMO is eating right, making healthy choices in our day to day lives, and staying active. That, and luck. Not always what everyone wants to hear...
I once worked with a guy who retired early. He had serious memory problems. We called him "Every day's a new day Jay." He was already messed up before he took early retirement.
From what I observed, people who retire and do nothing are the first to go, or go senile. The key to staying healthy IMO is eating right, making healthy choices in our day to day lives, and staying active. That, and luck. Not always what everyone wants to hear...
From what I observed at work, there were more than a few people still employed who were "going senile."
I think that a much more scientific study is needed. That one sounds like it could be an apples to oranges comparison. Only those voluntarily retiring early with no significant medical or mental impairment should be studied on one side, not to mention the playing field should be level financially.
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