A recent study led by researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Massachusetts Boston has found that regularly helping others outside the home can slow cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults. The research, published in Social Science & Medicine, followed more than 30,000 U.S. adults over two decades.
The study showed that those who volunteered formally or provided informal help to neighbors, family, or friends experienced a 15% to 20% slower rate of cognitive decline associated with aging. This benefit was observed when individuals spent about two to four hours per week assisting others.
“Everyday acts of support — whether organized or personal — can have lasting cognitive impact,” said Sae Hwang Han, an assistant professor of human development and family sciences at UT who led the study. “What stood out to me was that the cognitive benefits of helping others weren’t just short-term boosts but cumulative over time with sustained engagement, and these benefits were evident for both formal volunteering and informal helping. And in addition to that, moderate engagement of just two to four hours was consistently linked to robust benefits.”
The research is among the first to examine both formal volunteering and informal helping activities such as giving rides to health appointments or assisting with chores like lawn work or tax preparation. While roughly one-third of older Americans engage in scheduled volunteering, more than half provide regular informal help.
“Informal helping is sometimes assumed to offer fewer health benefits due to its lack of social recognition,” Han said. But in fact, “It was a pleasant surprise to find that it provides cognitive benefits comparable to formal volunteering.”
Using data from the Health and Retirement Study since 1998, researchers controlled for factors including wealth, physical and mental health, and education. They found age-related cognitive decline slowed as people began and maintained helping behaviors.
“Conversely, our data show that completely withdrawing from helping is associated with worse cognitive function,” Han said. “This suggests the importance of keeping older adults engaged in some form of helping for as long as possible, with appropriate supports and accommodations in place.”
The findings suggest public health strategies could focus on promoting volunteerism and neighborly assistance among older adults as a way to address conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Another recent study led by Han indicated that volunteering may reduce systemic inflammation caused by chronic stress—a biological pathway connected with dementia—especially among those experiencing higher levels of inflammation.
Together these studies suggest supporting opportunities for older adults—even those already experiencing some decline—to remain involved in helpful activities could be beneficial for brain health.
“Many older adults in suboptimal health often continue to make valuable contributions to those around them,” Han said, “and they also may be the ones to especially benefit from being provided with opportunities to help.”
Other authors on the study include former UT postdoctoral researcher Shiyang Zhang and Jeffrey Burr from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
