Helping Others Linked to Enhanced Brain Health in Older Adults

A recent study suggests that engaging in helping others may significantly enhance brain health among older adults. Research published in the journal Social Science and Medicine reveals that middle-aged and older individuals who regularly assist those outside their households experience slower cognitive decline compared to those who do not participate in such activities.

The study examined data from over 30,000 adults aged 51 and older in the United States, tracking brain health from 1998 to 2020. Researchers investigated the effects of both formal helping—like volunteering with organizations—and informal assisting, such as aiding a neighbor or a friend. Findings indicated that both forms of engagement correlate with enhanced cognitive function and a reduced rate of cognitive decline in later life. Conversely, reducing participation in helping activities is associated with poorer cognitive performance.

Sae Hwang Han, an assistant professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Texas and lead author of the study, highlighted the unexpected cognitive benefits of informal helping. He stated, “Informal helping is sometimes assumed to offer fewer health benefits due to its lack of social recognition. It was a pleasant surprise to find that it provides cognitive benefits comparable to formal volunteering.”

The study also found that older adults do not need to dedicate extensive time to helping others to reap cognitive advantages. Even moderate involvement of two to four hours per week yielded substantial benefits for brain health. Han emphasized that the cognitive advantages of helping others accumulate over time with sustained engagement, rather than being short-term boosts.

Despite its promising findings, the study has limitations. It did not delve into the specific types of volunteer activities, relied on self-reported data, and cannot definitively establish a cause-and-effect relationship between volunteering and improved brain health. Nevertheless, the results align with earlier research indicating a positive correlation between cognitive performance and volunteering, particularly among women.

Interestingly, volunteering initiatives typically focus on younger individuals. In the European Union, programs like the European Solidarity Corps are available primarily for those aged 18 to 30, leaving middle-aged and older adults with fewer opportunities. In 2021, the European Commission recommended that older adults engage in volunteering in its Green Paper on Ageing, but the emphasis was on intergenerational cooperation and self-esteem rather than cognitive health.

Han advocates for older adults to remain active participants in their communities for their own benefit as well as that of others. He remarked, “This suggests the importance of keeping older adults engaged in some form of helping for as long as possible, with appropriate supports and accommodations in place.”

As society continues to grapple with the implications of an aging population, these findings underscore the value of fostering connections and supporting community engagement among older adults.