Khaberni - A recent scientific study revealed that grandparents' participation in caring for their grandchildren may be linked to improvements in certain cognitive functions, and may contribute to slowing the rate of cognitive decline associated with aging, especially among grandmothers.
The study, published in the journal Psychology and Aging, which specializes in aging and mental health research, and led by researcher Flavia Cariusis from Tilburg University in the Netherlands, was based on data from nearly three thousand grandparents, collected as part of the "English Longitudinal Study of Ageing," one of the largest databases concerned with the health of the elderly.
Between 2016 and 2022, the participants, all over the age of fifty, underwent surveys about their involvement in the care of their grandchildren, in addition to cognitive tests conducted three times to measure the evolution of their mental abilities over time.
The results showed that grandparents who participated in the care of their grandchildren recorded better performance in verbal fluency and episodic memory tests, compared to their peers who were not actively involved in their grandchildren's lives.
Specially, it was observed that grandmothers who provided care for their grandchildren showed a slower rate of cognitive decline over time, compared to grandmothers who did not participate in caregiving.
Interestingly, the study did not find significant differences between those who provided care frequently and those whose participation was limited; it appeared that merely engaging in the care of grandchildren, regardless of the number of hours or the nature of the activity, was sufficient to achieve cognitive benefits.
Possible Explanation for the Results
The researcher suggested that grandparents who initially have higher mental abilities were more likely to participate in various activities with their grandchildren, such as playing or helping with homework. This opens the possibility that the more mentally active individuals are better able to engage in caregiving, and not just the other way around.
However, the researcher emphasizes that the caregiving factor itself seemed to have a greater impact on cognitive functions than the frequency of care or its nature, noting the need for further studies to understand the psychological and social context of this care more accurately.
However, the study cautioned against generalizing the results without considering the nature of the family environment, explaining that voluntary care in a supportive context may have different health effects than care imposed on grandparents under stressful conditions or without sufficient family support.
The researchers concluded that caring for grandchildren could represent a beneficial social and mental activity for the elderly, but it should be balanced, based on desire and ability, not on obligation.
