Research has produced the finding that grandparenting is good for the aging brain. This is notable in the present era when so much thinking can be outsourced, when so much of life can be sedentary and when human contact can become limited.
The finding was shared recently by the American Psychological Association and published in the Psychology and Aging journal.
“Helping care for grandchildren may serve as a buffer against cognitive decline in older adults,” the articles states. Data was examined from 2,887 grandparents in the United Kingdom, all older that 50, with a mean age of 67. Participants answered survey questions and completed cognitive tests 3 times between 2016 and 2022.
Overall, the researchers found that grandparents who provided childcare scored higher on tests of both memory and verbal fluency compared with those who didn’t, even after adjusting for age, health and other factors. This held true regardless of the frequency and type of care the grandparents provided (overnights, caring for ill grandchildren, playing or engaging in leisure activities, helping with homework, driving grandchildren to school and other activities and preparing meals).
Also, those who provided care saw less decline on cognitive tests over the course of the study compared with those who didn’t. The point is made that involvement has direct impact. “It’s about the broader experience of being involved with caregiving,” the report reveals.
To get into the weeds a little deeper, the researchers offer the caveat that the best outcomes occur when “the care is provided voluntarily, within a supportive family environment, as compared with caregiving in a more stressful environment where they feel unsupported or feel that the caregiving is not voluntary or is a burden.”
Ultimately, grandparenting keeps people mentally and physically active and can combat loneliness. While this may not be shocking, it is reassuring and actionable. Aside from my nearly daily habit of Word With Friends on a cell phone, it’s nice to know that there are tangential benefits from plugging into the worlds belonging to 2 toddlers in my midst. They are offering a sweet return on my investment of time, energy and emotion in their lives. And the dividends are exponential.
