Helping to raise your grandchildren may benefit older adults' brains.

A study published by the American Psychological Association using U.K. data on nearly 3,000 grandparents found that those who provided child care scored higher on memory and verbal fluency tests, and grandmother caregivers showed less cognitive decline over six years; researchers note benefits were linked to voluntary, supportive caregiving. University of Michigan polling and experts quoted in the article also linked grandparenting to lower isolation and increased mental engagement among older adults.

Millions of grandparents help raise grandchildren in the United States, and new research links that caregiving to differences in cognitive test scores. The American Psychological Association published the study led by Flavia Chereches, which analyzed nearly 3,000 grandparents in the U.K. The researchers measured memory and verbal fluency across a six-year period. Commentators in the report tied grandparenting to social engagement, executive functioning, and storytelling. The article also notes practical and emotional challenges that can accompany caregiving. Key findings: - The APA study used U.K. data from nearly 3,000 grandparents and followed participants for six years. - Grandparents who provided child care — including overnight care, tending to sick grandchildren, playing, helping with homework, preparing meals, and driving to activities — scored higher on memory and verbal fluency tests than non-caregivers. - Grandmother caregivers experienced less cognitive decline over the six-year study than senior women who did not care for grandchildren. - Lead author Flavia Chereches said being a caregiving grandparent mattered more for cognitive functioning than how often care was provided or the exact tasks performed. - Other research cited includes a 2024 University of Michigan poll finding seniors with at least one grandchild were less likely to report isolation; experts linked caregiving to perspective-taking and social engagement. - The article includes caveats: benefits were reported in voluntary, supportive caregiving situations, and family boundary issues, burnout, and financial pressures can complicate grandparent roles. Summary: The study associates grandparent caregiving with better scores on memory and verbal fluency tests and reports lower isolation in some older adults who spend time with grandchildren. Researchers and commentators emphasize that the observed benefits were tied to voluntary, supportive caregiving and that effects may differ in stressful or burdensome arrangements. Undetermined at this time.