Health
Retirement could be bad for your health, says wellness expert: 'Powered by purpose'
While the “official” full retirement age in the U.S. is 67, according to the Social Security Administration, the average American stops working at 62 years old.
But not everyone retires — an AARP survey last year found that a quarter of people over 50 expect to never leave their jobs.
That might not be all bad, according to some experts who believe retirement could actually be harmful to the health.
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Dan Buettner, a Florida-based author, explorer and longevity expert, has spent years researching the world’s “blue zones,” where a greater number of people live to be 100. In those areas, he says, the notion of retirement doesn’t really exist.
An AARP survey last year found that a quarter of people over 50 expect to never leave their jobs. (iStock)
“Instead of this artificial punctuation between your useful and productive life and a life of repose, people in blue zones are powered by purpose for their entire lives,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
While retirement has been linked to less stress and more relaxation, Buettner noted that when people retire, their chances of dying spike.
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“We don’t know if this is because they become less active, or they lose their sense of purpose, or they lose their social work, or they go home to have troublesome situations,” he said.
“But the message is clear — the longer you can stay active, physically and mentally, and contribute the talent you have to offer the world, the more you’ll be rewarded with a longer life.”
“It’s pretty difficult to be happy without purpose — it’s a lot easier when you’re clear on your purpose and passion,” an expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Kyle Elliott, a tech career coach and mental health expert in California, said that one reason for the emphasis on retirement is that many people don’t enjoy their current jobs.
“Professionals often look toward retirement as an escape from their careers — but rather than focusing on retirement, consider trying to find joy in your current work,” he told Fox News Digital.
“The longer you can stay active, physically and mentally, the more you’ll be rewarded with a longer life.”
“If your current work doesn’t bring you fulfillment, it might be time to explore new opportunities,” he went on. “When people enjoy their work, they’re less likely to be counting down the days until retirement, and their good feelings positively impact their day-to-day lives.”
Benefits of not retiring
People who retire are more prone to loneliness, have lower energy levels and often “lose their sense of meaning,” according to Buettner.
“Unless you truly hate your job, the link between longevity and not retiring is very important,” he said.
“One of the worst things you can do for your health is disengage from those around you,” one expert said. (iStock)
“Having a meaningful job can provide the impetus for us to get out of bed in the morning, get out of the easy chair, keep our brains engaged and keep our bodies moving — these are the things that really fuel longevity.”
Elliott echoed the importance of engagement and activity as people age.
“One of the worst things you can do for your health is disengage from those around you,” he said. “Work provides a structured opportunity to continue to socialize and have purpose in life.”
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Having a consistent routine can also lead to health benefits, Buettner said — chiefly, going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, which is more likely to happen with a work schedule.
“Sleep is the most important thing you can do for your overall health,” Buettner said.
“It’s pretty difficult to be happy without purpose — it’s a lot easier when you’re clear on your purpose and passion.” (iStock)
Elliott agreed that adhering to routines can significantly benefit mental health and longevity.
“You want to focus on engaging in those activities that boost your energy and well-being, while simultaneously removing those that drain your energy and negatively impact your self-care,” he advised. “As you near retirement age, this might look like switching careers or adjusting your social circle.”
Having a sense of purpose is one of the biggest benefits of opting not to retire, according to both experts.
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“It’s pretty difficult to be happy without purpose — it’s a lot easier when you’re clear on your purpose and passion,” Elliott said.
“When you’re clear on what drives you, you can use this clarity to motivate you during great times and provide resilience during difficult ones.”
“If you keep working, you can often take advantage of an employer health plan, you can delay taking Social Security benefits, and you’ll get a bigger paycheck in the future,” the longevity expert said. (iStock)
Buettner cited the famous “Nun Study,” a longitudinal study of aging and dementia that included 678 nuns in Mankato, Minnesota, many of whom lived past 100 years old.
“Those who lived the longest articulated their sense of purpose, the reason they woke up early,” Buettner said.
People who have a strong purpose are more likely to stay physically fit, eat nutritious foods, form healthy social relationships and take their medications, according to the expert.
“One very good study showed that people who maintain their sense of purpose live about eight years longer than people who are rudderless,” Buettner added.
Having a consistent routine, such as going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, can lead to health benefits. (iStock)
There are also financial benefits to keeping a job.
“If you keep working, you can often take advantage of an employer health plan, you can delay taking Social Security benefits, and you’ll get a bigger paycheck in the future,” said Buettner. “Not only that, you’ll have more money to enjoy your vacations.”
Different flavors of retirement
Retirement doesn’t have to look the same for everyone and doesn’t have to be “all or nothing,” according to Buettner.
“If you’re in a job that you hate, you probably shouldn’t keep doing that to the grave — but finding a job that lines up with your passions and your strengths might be the very best life change you can make at any age,” he said.
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“If you’re doing something you love every day, you’re engaging your purpose and innate desire to contribute, and are more likely to be happy.”
Statistically, according to Buettner, the happiest people in the world work about 30 to 35 hours a week.
“If you’re doing something you love every day, you’re engaging your purpose and innate desire to contribute.”
“That leaves plenty of time to be physically active, nurture your family, spend time with friends and give back meaningfully,” he said. “This is how we configure a life that will not only help you live longer, but also better.”
Elliott agreed, noting that while it’s not necessarily a bad thing to look forward to retirement, it can be helpful — and healthy — to find work that brings you fulfillment and allows you to remain mentally, physically and socially active as you age.
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“Retirement doesn’t have to mean completely leaving the workforce — instead, it might look like engaging in a new line of work, pursuing volunteer efforts, taking up hobbies or even starting a business,” he said.
“This transition can be the perfect opportunity to explore new interests and continue to live an intentional life.”
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Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.
In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.
“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.
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The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.
“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)
John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.
After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”
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At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.
An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.
John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)
“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”
Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.
“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”
It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.
“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.
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Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)
Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.
The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.
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“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”
Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.
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Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.
“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)
“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”
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“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.
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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
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