The impact of retirement on cognitive decline: findings from the CLSA
Channel: Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA/ÉLCV)
Date: 2023-05-27

As increasing life expectancy leads to a longer period of retirement, several studies have reported a negative association between retirement and cognitive abilities. Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) data is used to compare cognitive function, including memory, executive function and processing speed of retirees and workers, 45 to 85 years of age at baseline, and then at a three-year follow-up. Consistent with previous studies, our findings showed a significant decline in both processing speed and executive functions for retirees compared to workers from baseline to follow-up among the English-speaking sample. 

The next CLSA webinar will use CLSA data to help tell the story of cognitive decline and how it is associated with retirement. PhD candidate Catherine Gosselin will present on her findings, including a discussion of French vs. English-language data. The webinar will be presented in English, but French-language support will be provided in the chat and question and answer portions. Questions in French are encouraged. Join us on Tuesday, May 23 at 1 PM.

Catherine Gosselin is presently pursuing her PhD in neuropsychology at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières under the supervision of Dr. Annick Parent-Lamarche and Dr. Benjamin Boller. Her research interests focus on the effects of social and environmental factors on cognitive decline in older adults. Catherine's thesis explores the role of cognitive reserve in the relationship between cognitive decline and retirement. She has received research grants from both the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Société et culture (FRQSC). body of literature on the topic and provide valuable insights into the factors that shape healthy aging in our society.