Retirement and cognitive aging in a racially diverse sample of older Americans

Background: Retirement represents a crucial transitional period for many adults with possible consequences for cognitive aging. We examined trajectories of cognitive change before and after retirement in Black and White adults. Methods: Longitudinal examination of up to 10 years (mean = 7.1 +/- 2.2 years) using data from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study-a national, longitudinal study of Black and White adults >= 45 years of age. Data were from 2226 members of the REGARDS study who retired around the time when an occupational ancillary survey was administered. Cognitive function was an average of z-scores for tests of verbal fluency, memory, and global function. Results: Cognitive functioning was stable before retirement (Estimate = 0.05, p = 0.322), followed by a significant decline after retirement (Estimate = similar to 0.15, p < 0.001). The decline was particularly pronounced in White (Estimate = similar to 0.19, p < 0.001) compared with Black (Estimate = similar to 0.07, p = 0.077) participants, twice as large in men (Estimate = similar to 0.20, p < 0.001) compared with women (Estimate = similar to 0.11, p < 0.001), highest among White men (Estimate = similar to 0.22, p < 0.001) and lowest in Black women (Estimate = similar to 0.04, p = 0.457). Greater post-retirement cognitive decline was also observed among participants who attended college (Estimate = similar to 0.14, p = 0.016). While greater work complexity (Estimate = 0.92, p < 0.05) and higher income (Estimate = 1.03, p < 0.05) were related to better cognitive function at retirement, neither was significantly related to cognitive change after retirement. Conclusion: Cognitive functioning may decline at an accelerated rate immediately post-retirement, more so in White adults and men than Black adults and women. Lifelong structural inequalities including occupational segregation and other social determinants of cognitive health may obscure the role of retirement in cognitive aging.

Automated summary

Retirement represents a critical period for cognitive aging. A longitudinal study of Black and White adults aged >= 45 years found that cognitive functioning remained stable before retirement but declined significantly after retirement. The decline was more pronounced in White adults, especially men, compared to Black adults and women. Participants with higher education and greater work complexity had better cognitive function at retirement, but these factors were not significantly related to cognitive change after retirement.