According to a study published by the American Psychological Association, helping with grandchild care can serve as a kind of protection against the decline of cognitive functions in older adults.
Flavia Chereches, the lead researcher from Tilburg University in the Netherlands, noted that many grandparents regularly engage in their grandchildren's lives, which not only supports families but also makes a positive contribution to society.
“However, an important question remains: what is the benefit for the grandparents themselves from such involvement in grandchild care? In our study, we aimed to find out whether such activities can positively impact the health of older adults and, in particular, slow cognitive decline,” she reported.
As part of the study, data from 2,887 grandparents participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing were analyzed. All participants were over 50 years old, with an average age of 67. They underwent surveys and cognitive tests three times between 2016 and 2022.
Participants were asked whether they had cared for their grandchildren in the past year. The survey also collected detailed information about the frequency of care and the types of activities they performed.
Types of Care
The activities included a variety of responsibilities such as overnight supervision, caring for sick grandchildren, playing together, helping with homework, transporting children to school or other activities, as well as cooking and other forms of support.
By comparing test results, researchers found that grandparents who actively engage in grandchild care demonstrate better memory and verbal flexibility compared to those who do not participate. These differences persisted even when accounting for age, overall health, and other significant factors. Furthermore, these indicators remained stable regardless of the frequency of care and specific types of activities.
Characteristics Among Grandmothers
It was also noted that grandmothers who care for their grandchildren showed less cognitive decline compared to those who did not engage in this activity.
“We were surprised to find that the role of grandparents as caregivers seems to have a greater impact on cognitive functions than the frequency of care or specific actions they perform with their grandchildren,” Chereches added. “Further research is needed to confirm these results. However, if caring for grandchildren is indeed beneficial for grandparents, this benefit may depend not on the frequency of help or specific actions, but rather on the overall experience of being involved in grandchild care.”
The Importance of Family Context
Chereches noted that it is necessary to study how family dynamics and other factors influence such outcomes. The conditions under which care occurs can be significantly important.
“Care provided voluntarily and in a supportive family environment may have a different effect on grandparents than care in a stressful setting, where they may feel unsupported or perceive caregiving as an obligation,” she added.
