Grandparents Who Babysit Experience Cognitive Benefits, Research Shows
A compelling new study published in the journal Psychology and Aging reveals that grandparents who provide childcare for their grandchildren enjoy significantly better cognitive function compared to those who do not participate in caregiving activities. The research indicates that engaging in any form of grandchild care—from homework assistance to overnight babysitting—correlates with enhanced performance on memory and language assessments.
Study Details and Key Findings
Researchers from Tilburg University in the Netherlands analyzed data from 2,887 grandparents aged 50 and older, with an average age of 67. Participants completed self-reported surveys about their caregiving habits over the past year, detailing various activities such as:
- Helping with homework
- Providing care during sick days
- Overnight babysitting
- Driving grandchildren to school
- Cooking meals and playing together
These grandparents also underwent cognitive testing measuring memory and verbal fluency at three points between 2016 and 2022. The results were striking: those who engaged in any caregiving scored higher on cognitive tests, with grandmothers showing particularly slower rates of cognitive decline compared to their non-caregiving peers.
Quality Over Quantity in Caregiving
Lead study author Flavia Chereches emphasized a crucial insight from the research: "What stood out most to us was that being a caregiving grandparent seemed to matter more for cognitive functioning than how often grandparents provided care or what exactly they did with their grandchildren."
Chereches elaborated that the cognitive benefits appear to stem from the broader experience of being involved in caregiving rather than specific activities or frequency. This suggests that even occasional, varied interactions with grandchildren can contribute to maintaining brain health.
Why Childcare Boosts Brain Function
Providing childcare offers multiple pathways to cognitive enhancement:
- Mental Stimulation: Caregiving challenges the brain to learn new things and adapt to different situations. Dr. Zaldy Tan, director of the Jona Goldrich Center for Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders at Cedars-Sinai, explains that learning fosters "brain plasticity"—the brain's ability to form new connections between cells and adapt to change.
- Social Engagement: Childcare is inherently social, countering the harmful effects of isolation. Dr. James Ellison, a psychiatrist at Jefferson Health, notes that social interactions positively affect metabolic and brain activity, while isolation, loneliness, and depression are linked to higher dementia rates.
Whether helping with homework, navigating new technology, or listening to stories about a grandchild's day, these activities collectively stimulate the brain and encourage the growth of neural connections.
Study Limitations and Future Research
The study authors acknowledged certain limitations, including unknown midlife habits of participants that could influence both caregiving ability and current cognition. Additionally, reliance on self-reported data leaves room for potential memory inaccuracies. More research is needed to replicate these findings and explore the mechanisms behind the cognitive benefits.
Practical Implications for Aging Well
Incorporating grandchild care into one's routine can complement other brain-healthy practices such as regular exercise, quality sleep, stress management, and a balanced diet. For grandparents seeking to maintain cognitive sharpness, volunteering to babysit or assist with homework presents a meaningful, enjoyable strategy with potential long-term benefits.
As the population ages, understanding how intergenerational caregiving supports brain health becomes increasingly important. This study adds to growing evidence that staying socially and mentally active through family roles can contribute to healthier aging.
