Study Finds Helping Others May Slow Cognitive Decline
December 20, 2025373 VistasTiempo de lectura: 3 minutos
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A recent scientific study has unveiled an intriguing finding: dedicating just a few hours a week to helping others may be one of the most effective ways to maintain brain health and slow cognitive decline associated with aging, without the need for exhausting volunteer commitments or long-term programs.
Two Decades of Research Yield Clear Results
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Boston, tracked over 30,000 American adults for nearly two decades, utilizing long-term data to monitor cognitive changes.
Researchers concluded that individuals who regularly helped others outside their family demonstrated a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to those who did not engage in such activities.
Just a Few Hours Can Have Lasting Effects
According to the study published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, dedicating two to four hours a week to helping others was associated with a 15% to 20% reduction in the rate of cognitive decline.
Remarkably, this effect was not temporary but cumulative, as benefits increased for those who continued to assist over the years.
Lead researcher Sai Huang Han stated: “The cognitive benefits of helping others are not merely a momentary psychological boost; they represent a lasting effect that strengthens with continuity.”
Beyond Formal Volunteering
The study compared:
organized volunteering (working with organizations and institutions)
informal assistance (supporting neighbors, driving patients, caring for children, or helping with daily tasks)
Results indicated that both types of engagement offer similar benefits for brain health, challenging the common belief that only formal volunteering has an impact.
Han explained, “Informal help is often underestimated but is equally effective for cognitive abilities.”
National Data Supports Findings
Researchers relied on the U.S. Health and Retirement Study database, which has monitored individuals aged 51 and older since 1998, considering factors such as:
education
economic status
physical and mental health
Even after controlling for these variables, the link between generosity and slower cognitive aging persisted, while ceasing to help others was associated with more rapid cognitive decline.
An Important Public Health Message
The researchers believe these findings underscore the importance of social interaction and generosity as part of public health strategies, especially in light of increasing life expectancy and the rising risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Previous research by the same team has also shown that volunteering reduces chronic stress and inflammation, which are biological factors related to brain decline.
Han concluded: “Many elderly individuals, even those facing health challenges, are still capable of helping, and they are among the groups that benefit cognitively the most from this behavior.”
Two Decades of Research Yield Clear Results
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Boston, tracked over 30,000 American adults for nearly two decades, utilizing long-term data to monitor cognitive changes.
Researchers concluded that individuals who regularly helped others outside their family demonstrated a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to those who did not engage in such activities.
Just a Few Hours Can Have Lasting Effects
According to the study published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, dedicating two to four hours a week to helping others was associated with a 15% to 20% reduction in the rate of cognitive decline.
Remarkably, this effect was not temporary but cumulative, as benefits increased for those who continued to assist over the years.
Lead researcher Sai Huang Han stated: “The cognitive benefits of helping others are not merely a momentary psychological boost; they represent a lasting effect that strengthens with continuity.”
Beyond Formal Volunteering
The study compared:
organized volunteering (working with organizations and institutions)
informal assistance (supporting neighbors, driving patients, caring for children, or helping with daily tasks)
Results indicated that both types of engagement offer similar benefits for brain health, challenging the common belief that only formal volunteering has an impact.
Han explained, “Informal help is often underestimated but is equally effective for cognitive abilities.”
National Data Supports Findings
Researchers relied on the U.S. Health and Retirement Study database, which has monitored individuals aged 51 and older since 1998, considering factors such as:
education
economic status
physical and mental health
Even after controlling for these variables, the link between generosity and slower cognitive aging persisted, while ceasing to help others was associated with more rapid cognitive decline.
An Important Public Health Message
The researchers believe these findings underscore the importance of social interaction and generosity as part of public health strategies, especially in light of increasing life expectancy and the rising risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Previous research by the same team has also shown that volunteering reduces chronic stress and inflammation, which are biological factors related to brain decline.
Han concluded: “Many elderly individuals, even those facing health challenges, are still capable of helping, and they are among the groups that benefit cognitively the most from this behavior.”
