Retire, Feel 8 Years Younger

Retirement is great medicine, new research shows. A study of French workers for 7 years before and after they punched the time clock for the last time indicates health increases dramatically after retirement. Reports of poor health drop from 19.2% in the year before retirement to 14.3% the year after—that’s the same level as 8 years before, leading researchers to conclude retirees feel 8 years younger.

“Work puts an extra burden on the health of older workers,” a study author tells HealthDay News, and “the effects of this extra burden are largely relieved by retirement.” Bully for Europe, but can we expect the same effects in the US? “As I understand it,” the researcher continues, “a substantial number of Americans have to take up a new, and often less-qualified and more stressful job, after formal retirement to make ends meet.” So no. (More scientific study stories.)