When to Retire? Consider This First

Recent research paints an interesting picture of what it takes to age well. The first, a study of almost 50,000 older female nurses, found that “(g)reater gratitude at baseline was associated with a lower hazard of mortality ... the highest tertile of gratitude, compared with the lowest tertile, was associated with a lower hazard of all-cause deaths.” This study reportedly provided the “first empirical evidence” that a grateful attitude can impact one’s lifespan.¹

The second study, involving 900 adults with an average age of 80 years old, found that a “diminished sense of purpose and personal growth may precede mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults.” Previous studies have also shown a link between a sense of purpose and dementia.²

As a doctor, you already know that diet is a “primary determinant” of aging “capable of either promoting or mitigating the onset of age-related diseases that impact the ageing trajectory.”³ You may also know (but may be ignoring) that research suggests “higher consumption of UPF (ultra processed foods) [is] associated with higher risk of dementia, whereas substituting unprocessed or minimally processed foods for UPF [is] associated with lower risk of dementia.”⁴

Another recent study endeavored to estimate the reduction in lifespan based upon lower physical activity. Investigators found that with a higher level of physical activity, an American “over the age of 40 could live an extra 5.3 years (95% uncertainty interval 3.7 to 6.8 years) on average.”⁵

So, what does this mean for your retirement? For many people, retirement is their reward for decades of hard work earning a living. It is a time to sit back, relax, travel and watch the grandkids grow. It’s their time to “turn on (the television), tune in (to social media) and drop out (of practice).”

But more and more DCs are continuing to practice even when they don’t have to. Some have suggested the reason doctors are practicing longer is financial. And while this may be true for some, maintaining a sense of purpose may be the driving factor for many.

Practicing longer also plays into the amount of gratitude enjoyed through serving patients. The exchange of appreciation and encouragement is part of patient care. It’s what happens when you are involved with people who value you.

Staying engaged, exercising, eating well and maintaining your reason to get up every morning may be the best retirement scenario for you to live a fulfilling life as you age. That’s not to say traveling and spending time with family aren’t important, but for many of us, we need to keep contributing, keep growing, and keep making a difference.

Retiring well is all about aging well.

References

1. Chen Y, Okereke OI, Kim ES, et al. Gratitude and mortality among older US female nurses. JAMA Psychiatry, 2024;81(10):1030-1038.
2. Anderer S. Lack of personal growth, purpose linked with mild cognitive impairment. JAMA, 2024;332(13):1044.
3. Mensah EO, Danyo EK, Asase RV. Exploring the effect of different diet types on ageing and age-related diseases. Nutrition, 2024;112596,
4. Li H, Li S, Yang H, et al. Association of ultraprocessed food consumption with risk of dementia. Neurology, 2022;99(10):e1056-e1066.
5. Veerman L, Tarp J, Wijaya R, et al. Physical activity and life expectancy: a life-table analysis. Brit J Sports Med, 2024 Nov 14:bjsports-2024-108125.