Grandchildren and Sports Clubs Boost Brain Health More Than Church, Study Suggests
Research indicates that social activities like sports clubs and childcare may be more beneficial for cognitive function in older adults than religious or political group involvement.
Engaging in activities such as joining a sports club or looking after grandchildren may offer greater cognitive benefits for older adults than attending church, according to a study examining data from over 58,000 participants across 24 countries.
The research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that social activity engagement in general was linked to improved cognitive health. However, specific activities showed varied impacts on cognitive performance, assessed through memory and executive function tests.
Volunteering and membership in sports clubs were associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline. Similarly, participating in training courses and caring for children and grandchildren correlated with higher cognitive scores over time.
In contrast, involvement in political, community, church, or religious groups did not consistently demonstrate a positive link with enhanced cognitive abilities in the analysis, which followed participants for an average of six years.
Experts from the First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital at Guangdong Medical University stated that social engagement is a potentially modifiable factor for promoting brain health in older adults. They emphasized the importance of developing and implementing targeted interventions that encourage a diverse range of social activities for this demographic.
The findings suggest that while church attendance can foster community connections, other forms of social interaction might be more effective in maintaining sharp cognitive function, particularly for women, individuals over 60, and those living alone.