A new study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine found that middle-aged and older people who regularly help others maintain cognitive function significantly longer than those who avoid such activities.
Scientists analyzed data from more than 30,000 Americans aged 51 and older, who were followed from 1998 to 2020. Participants reported whether they volunteered for organizations or helped with household chores — for example, neighbors or friends.
The results were telling: even a few hours of help per week — two to four — slowed cognitive decline. In contrast, refusing to participate in such activities was associated with a noticeable deterioration in brain function.
The study confirmed that both formal volunteering and informal helping have equally positive effects on cognitive health. However, the researchers acknowledge the limitations of the work: the data are based on self-reports and do not allow us to prove a cause-and-effect relationship with absolute certainty.
Interestingly, the brain benefits of volunteering may be even greater for women, as previous research has suggested. However, current volunteer support programs are mostly aimed at young people. For example, the EU has the European Solidarity Corps, which is only available to people aged 18 to 30.
There are almost no such opportunities for older people. Although back in 2021, the European Commission recommended involving older people in volunteering in its Green Paper on Ageing, the emphasis was mainly on intergenerational interaction and increasing self-esteem, rather than on maintaining cognitive health.
Experts emphasize that even small, regular acts of kindness can be an effective tool for maintaining mental clarity in adulthood.
