Help others to take care of us: cognitive health improves

A team from the University of Texas in Austin and the University of Massachusetts (United States) has discovered that People who carry out volunteer actions regularly or They help informally To neighbors, family or friends They are delayed its cognitive deterioration related to aging.

The study, published in ‘Social Science & Medicine’analyzed a More than 30,000 adults in the US and confirmed that, among those people who lent these types of actions to the community, the cognitive impairment rate associated with aging It was reduced between 15 and 20%. He benefit was more solid among those who dedicated two to four hours a week to help others.

“What caught my attention was that The cognitive benefits of helping others were not only short -term improvementsbut cumulative over time thanks to a sustained participation, and These benefits were evident both for formal volunteering and for informal help. In addition, a moderate participation of only two to four hours was systematically associated with significant benefits, “said the Deputy Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences in the UT SAE HWANG They have, who directed the study.

The benefits of helping others

The investigation is novel because it is one of the first that Analyze both formal volunteering and other aid within everyone’s reach, which may include actions such as Accompany a relative to a medical appointment, Take care of a friend’s children or fix a neighbor’s grass.

“Sometimes it is assumed that Informal help It offers less benefits for health due to its lack of social recognition, “said Han. But, in fact,” it was a pleasant surprise to discover that Provides benefits cognitive that are comparable to those of formal volunteer“He stressed.

For the study, the authors used Longitudinal data of the American population which revealed that the cognitive deterioration related to age slowed as people began and maintained help behaviors. From these findings, they have suggested that there may be greater advances in the brain of Those who integrate the Help behaviors in your routine, year after year.

On the contrary, the data showed that who stopped providing these aid full their deterioration were affected cognitively negatively. “This proposes the importance of older adults participate in some kind of help During as long as possible, with adequate support and adaptations, “Han said.

Benefits against stress

Another recent studyalso directed by Han, discovered that Volunteering attenuated the adverse effects of chronic stress On systemic inflammation, a known biological route related to Cognitive deterioration and dementia. The effect was especially pronounced in people with higher levels of inflammation.

Together, the findings of both studies highlight that help and volunteer actions can improve brain health, either reducing physiological wear associated with stress or strengthening social connections that provide psychological, emotional and cognitive benefits.

In the context of a Society that ages And the growing concern for loneliness and isolation, the findings also provide an important basis to continue involving people in this type of acts, even once cognitive deterioration has begun.