British scientists have found a significant link between later retirement age and later onset of dementia in men.

The research is published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

This result came from an analysis of 382 men with probable Alzheimer's by scientists from the Institute of Psychiatry and Cardiff University. Information based on education and employment was used to determine the effects of early life education, mid life employment and later life retirement on the age of onset of dementia.

A significant affect was found between later retirement age and later onset of dementia. The small sample of men make the other measures difficult to interpret, but they suggest that education or specific job type has a weaker link with dementia risk.

The study was funded by the Medical Research Council and the Alzheimer's Research Trust. 'There could be a number of reasons why later retirement in men is linked with later onset of dementia. Men who retire early often do so because of health conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes, which increase your risk of dementia. It could also be that working helps keep your mind and body active, which may reduce risk of dementia.

The best way to reduce your risk of dementia is to combine keeping physically active, with eating a balanced diet and getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly. One million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years. Investing in research into how to prevent dementia is vital if we are to defeat this devastating condition.'