Non-employment over the working life: Implications for cognitive function and decline in later life.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Disuse theory predicts that cognitive function is vulnerable to transitions that remove factors that support cognitive skills. We sought to investigate whether non-employment over the working life was associated with cognitive function and decline in later life (≥60 years old), and possible gender differences in the association.

Study design

Longitudinal study.

Method

We used data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD). Cognitive function was measured by verbal memory and processing speed. Linear regression was used to test associations between non-employment duration and cognitive function at age 60-64, and conditional change models were used to examine associations between non-employment and cognitive decline from age 60-64 to 69. G

SUBMITTER: Sizer AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11758421 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature