Many parents have Grandma or Grandpa babysit every now and then to give our children bonding time with them and to save money. Now we know it can also save Grandma’s memory.
The good news for grandparents
A study from the Women’s Healthy Aging Project has shed some new light on the role spending time with the grandchildren can have on us as we age. As with so many things in life, it appears that finding the right balance will have the most positive effect.
The study gave tests to 168 Australian women ranging in age from 57-68. The grandmothers in the study who watched their grandchildren for one day per week scored highest on the cognitive tests, while those who minded the kids 5 days per week scored the lowest and had the highest chance of developing Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders. Those who didn’t have grandchildren or did not watch them scored in the middle.
Watching the grandkids can also make you happier. A study from European Insurer Engage Mutual found that 69% of grandparents watch their grandchildren because it makes them happy to do so.
