Helping Behaviors and Cognitive Functioning: Implications for Individuals with Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
2024
Helping Behaviors and Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults
Sample size: 35004
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Zhang Shiyang, Jang HaeJin, Han Sae Hwang
Primary Institution: University of Texas at Austin
Hypothesis
The cognitive benefits of helping behaviors vary across individuals with different levels of cognitive functioning.
Conclusion
Helping behaviors are particularly beneficial for individuals with lower cognitive functioning, including those with cognitive impairment and dementia.
Supporting Evidence
- Formal volunteering improves cognitive functioning and delays cognitive impairment.
- The cognitive benefits of helping behaviors are more pronounced for individuals with worse cognitive functioning.
- Helping behaviors may be beneficial for older adults despite health challenges.
Takeaway
Helping others can be good for your brain, especially if you're having trouble thinking clearly.
Methodology
Data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (1998–2020) was analyzed using unconditional quantile regression models.
Participant Demographics
Older adults from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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