US researchers have discovered that volunteering can improve cognitive function in older adults, especially women and people with lower levels of education.
The Health and Retirement Study collected data from over 11,000 50-plus people over the past 25 years. It showed significant improvement in cognitive function for participants who volunteered, regardless of how much time they spent doing it.
Why does volunteering benefit the brain?
Lead researcher Professor Christine Proulx says it’s likely because volunteering stimulates the brain.
When volunteering, a person has to follow directions, solve problems, and be active, all of which use the brain’s working memory (what the brain needs to briefly store and manage information) and processing (how fast the brain is able to take in and store information).
Give and you shall receive?
While previous research has linked volunteering to physical health and social connectedness, this is one of the first studies to relate it to mental functioning.
And you’re never too old to start. At the recent NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, there was a record number of nominations for Senior Volunteer of the Year.
Glad Kent, 99 (pictured top left), took out the Hunter region award, for her work raising money for cancer patients in the Newcastle area as a volunteer for Calvary Mater Newcastle Auxiliary Cancer Care, which she has done since the age of 80.
91-year-old Meg Stevenson was also lauded for her 27 years of volunteering running the outreach program at the Powerhouse Museum going to retirement villages, disadvantaged communities and to people who can’t otherwise get to the museum.
Inspiring stuff.
Picture: Tom Hanks knows it’s always better to give to others in the 1994 film ‘Forrest Gump’.
