New research suggests that looking after grandchildren can benefit the brain and help prevent cognitive decline.
According to the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), grandparents who offered care to their grandchildren tended to exhibit improved cognitive abilities and thinking skills. The study highlighted that grandmothers, in particular, demonstrated better thinking skills in later life, with indications that they provided more care compared to grandfathers.
Lead researcher Flavia Chereches, from Tilburg University in the Netherlands, emphasized the significance of caregiving grandparents, stating that regular grandchild care not only benefits families but also society at large. The study’s key finding was that the act of being a caregiving grandparent appeared to have a more significant impact on cognitive function than the frequency of care or specific activities undertaken with grandchildren.
Published in the journal Psychology and Aging, the study analyzed the health, social, well-being, and economic circumstances of individuals aged over 50. Data from 2,887 grandparents who participated in surveys and cognitive tests multiple times between 2016 and 2022 were examined.
Participants were asked about their caregiving activities for grandchildren in the past year and the nature and frequency of such care, including overnight stays, assisting when unwell, engaging in activities, helping with schoolwork, transportation, and meal preparation.
The study involved cognitive tests such as verbal fluency and memory assessments. Grandparents who provided childcare scored higher on memory and verbal fluency tests compared to those who did not, irrespective of the amount of care given. Additionally, grandmothers who provided care displayed less cognitive decline over time.
The research revealed that grandparents with higher initial cognitive levels tended to engage in more activities with their grandchildren. However, it remains inconclusive whether caregiving directly influenced improved cognitive skills or if more cognitively adept grandparents were more inclined to interact more with their grandchildren.
Furthermore, the research team suggested that the mental benefits of caregiving might be influenced by whether the activity is voluntary or not.
Ms. Chereches highlighted the potential impact of voluntary caregiving within a supportive family environment as opposed to caregiving in stressful or unsupportive situations, emphasizing the importance of the voluntary and supportive nature of caregiving activities.
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