INSERM-French Governments Health Research Agency Report

Carole Dufouil, scientist at INSERM, reports at the Alzheimer's Assoc. International Conference
in Boston, MA  the "use it or lose it" theory about brainpower and staying mentally sharp is true.
The largest study, half a million people in France, found that delaying retirement lessens the risk of developing a variety of dementia's.
The risk of getting dementia was reduced by 3.2 percent for each week worked which was
related to staying physically active, mentally challenged and socially connected. The workers
surveyed had an average age of 74 and had been retired for an average of 12 years. People
who retired at age 65  showed about a 15 percent lower risk of developing dementia compared
to those who retired at age 60.  Researchers eliminated people who developed dementia within
5 years of their retirement to rule out the possibility that they retired because of memory
decline. So continue to work as long as you are physically able and/or work part time after
you officially retire.        reported by:  The Associated Press