A leading longevity expert has identified what he terms the ‘most dangerous year of your life’, pointing to a key lifestyle choice that could enhance health and increase lifespan.
Dan Buettner, renowned for his investigations into the mysterious ‘Blue Zones’ – areas where people live significantly longer than the average American – has some staggering claims for his sizable TikTok audience.
The 64 year old researcher advised his 152,000 followers that retirement can trigger an uptick in mortality rates, hypothesising that this may be linked to losing one’s social network, purpose, or reduced physical activity.
He teased the information, saying: “This will shock a lot of people. The most dangerous year of your adult life, on average, is the year you retire.
“There is a notable mortality spike that year. We don’t know if you are more likely to die because you lost your social network, or you lost your sense of purpose, or you are less likely to be active if you’re retired.”
He offered a key piece of advice to counteract this risk: “But one of the greatest ways to overcome that is find something to do after you retire. Or, if you like your job, keep working. It will add years to your life.”
The specific data Buettner refers to remains unspecified, but relevant findings come from a study by the Amsterdam Public Health research institute in 2020.
This investigation pooled results from 25 studies and hinted at a surprising trend—retiring on time might correlate with a higher mortality risk compared to those who work past the typical retirement age.
The cause, while not definitive, could be attributed to what’s known as the ‘healthy worker’ effect, reports Surrey Live.
The concept suggests that healthy individuals are more inclined to continue working beyond retirement age, whereas those in poor health are more likely to quit the workforce, potentially distorting the findings. Nonetheless, similar patterns have been observed in other studies, including a US-based analysis of 29,655 participants.
This research revealed that among employees aged 65 and above. While it is unclear what data Dan is referring to, the Amsterdam Public Health research institute investigated links between retirement age and mortality across 25 studies in 2020.
Interestingly, results showed that on-time retirement was ‘associated with a higher risk of mortality’ compared with working beyond retirement. The study did not confirm the cause of this, but said it may be due to something known as ‘healthy worker’ phenomenon.
This is simply the idea that ‘healthy (people) are more likely to work beyond retirement, and unhealthy (people) are more likely to exit from the workforce’, potentially skewing results. Yet, other studies echo similar patterns too, including a US-based of analyses of 29,655 people.
This saw that ‘physical functioning declines faster in retirement than in full-time work in employees aged 65 years or older’. Scientists also said the ‘difference (was) not explained by absence of chronic diseases and lifestyle-related risks’ either.
At the time, they wrote: “Furthermore, the scientists noted that this difference could not be attributed to the absence of chronic diseases or lifestyle-related risks.
“Some people may continue working because of financial pressures. In this situation, participation in working life may not necessarily facilitate employees’ health, especially their mental health.
“On the other hand, some may want to continue working because they are interested in working with colleagues or contributing with their knowledge and skills. In this situation, the health and functioning are likely to be maintained.”
Although research is ongoing, it is evident that maintaining physical and mental activity, regardless of age, can significantly contribute to preventing various severe health conditions. This includes cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s, with a recent study underscoring the importance of aerobic exercise in enhancing cognitive function.
Dan emphasised: “Keep busy, stay active, and keep working – your health and longevity depend on it!”