Grandchildren, sports clubs and volunteering: the busy social life that keeps older minds sharp

Researchers from Shandong University followed 57,793 people aged 57 to 73 across 24 countries for about six years, and a pattern stood out: people who regularly did at least three kinds of social activity — looking after grandchildren, volunteering, playing in sports clubs, learning a new skill — kept measurably sharper memory and thinking skills. Volunteering and sports clubs were linked to slower cognitive decline in every survey studied, and the benefit was strongest for women over 60. It is a five-cohort study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health — and a gentle prescription anyone can fill.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being