Grandparent caregiving tied to better cognitive health

Using data from 2,887 older adults (mean age 67) in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, researchers report that grandparents who provided grandchild care scored higher on memory and verbal fluency and showed less cognitive decline over 2016–2022, regardless of care frequency or type. The findings suggest caregiving may benefit grandparents’ brain health, though effects may depend on a voluntary, supportive family context and require replication.