Better than any crosswords. Grandchild care saves grandparents' brains from aging
Helping to raise grandchildren can give the brains of older people an unexpected and lasting boost. Scientists have found that grandparents who look after children have significantly better memory and language skills. Moreover, the benefit comes from the very fact of participating in the lives of grandchildren, not from the number of hours spent with them.
Photo: Nasha Niva
A study published by the American Psychological Association (APA) shows that active involvement in grandparent care serves as a buffer against age-related cognitive decline. Simply put, communicating with young children helps the older generation maintain mental clarity longer. The publication ScienceDaily writes about the research results, and the Telegram channel Bel-Geek.com drew attention to them.
"Many grandparents regularly help their children, which is important for families and society as a whole. We wanted to check if this benefits the elders themselves — can such care slow down their aging," explains Flavia Kerekesch, head of the study from Tilburg University (Netherlands).
How was the study conducted?
Scientists analyzed data from 2,887 people over 50 years old (the average age of participants was 67 years). Researchers observed them from 2016 to 2022, regularly conducting surveys and cognitive ability tests.
"Grandchild care" includes a variety of activities:
- grandkids staying overnight with grandparents;
- help with homework;
- joint games and walks;
- accompanying to school or clubs;
- cooking meals.
Impressive results
When scientists compared the test results, it turned out that "active" grandparents scored significantly higher in memory and verbal fluency tests. This effect persisted even after accounting for participants' general health and age.
Interestingly: the result was barely affected by how often a grandmother helped or what exactly she did with her grandchild. The most important factor was the very fact of belonging to the role of a caregiver. This tendency was especially pronounced among women: grandmothers who help with grandchildren face age-related brain decline significantly less often than their peers who live "for themselves."
It is important that care is not compulsory
However, scientists make an important note: the benefit for the brain directly depends on the family atmosphere.
If a grandmother helps voluntarily, feels supported by her children, and communication with her grandchildren brings her joy — it works like an "elixir of youth." But if childcare becomes a difficult and unwelcome duty, perceived as a burden, the effect can be the opposite. Stress from excessive workload can not slow down, but even accelerate health problems.
Thus, science confirms an old truth: a strong intergenerational connection is not only a matter of upbringing but also a guarantee of a long and healthy life for elders.
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