Caring for Grandkids Protects Brain Health, Study Finds

Babysitting your grandchildren might be one of the best things you can do for your brain health.

A new study published by the American Psychological Association tracked 2,887 grandparents over six years and found that those who regularly care for their grandchildren maintain better memory and verbal skills as they age. The participants, all over 50 and cognitively healthy at the start, completed cognitive tests three times between 2016 and 2022.

The results weren't just about spending time together. Simple activities like playing games, helping with homework, and picking kids up from school all showed links to stronger cognitive function. Around 56 percent of participants provided care throughout the entire year, not just during holidays or occasional weekends.

What surprised researchers most was that being a caregiving grandparent mattered more than how often they provided care or exactly what they did. "What stood out most to us was that being a caregiving grandparent seemed to matter more for cognitive functioning than how often grandparents provided care," said lead researcher Flavia Chereches from Tilburg University in the Netherlands.

The benefits appear strongest for grandmothers. Women who cared for grandchildren started the study with sharper memory and better verbal skills than non-caregiving grandmothers, and these abilities faded more slowly over time. Grandfathers also began with better skills than non-caregivers, but their cognitive abilities declined at the same rate regardless of caregiving status.

Researchers believe the difference may come down to the type of involvement. Grandmothers typically engage more in physical and emotional care, while grandfathers usually participate in leisure activities. This deeper emotional and cognitive engagement may provide extra brain protection for women.

The Bright Side

This research offers hope for healthy aging without expensive interventions or complicated treatments. The everyday moments that grandparents already cherish, like reading stories, preparing meals, or taking walks to the park, may be strengthening their minds while creating precious memories.

The study authors emphasize that context matters too. Voluntary caregiving in supportive family environments likely produces different effects than situations where grandparents feel burdened or unsupported. The key is finding a balance that feels joyful rather than stressful.

For the millions of grandparents worldwide who help raise grandchildren, this research validates what many already feel: those special relationships benefit everyone involved.