Helping with grandchildren may stave off cognitive decline
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- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Psychology and AgingResearchers analyzed data from 2,887 grandparents (average age 67, 56% women) collected from 2016 to 2022. Participants completed surveys on whether they cared for grandchildren in the past year and, if so, what they did with them - such as babysitting, playing, helping with homework - as well as how often. All participants also took thinking and memory tests several times during the study.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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