A recently published journal study gave insight into grandmothers who babysit their grandchildren. The study found that grandmothers who babysat once a week scored higher on cognitive tests than those who did now. However, grandmothers who babysat five or more days per week scored lower on the same tests. The key is moderation. Why does babysitting help prevent dementia?
The key is social interaction. There is a growing body of research showing that social interaction is a vital component in healthy lifestyles for seniors. The National Institute of Aging states there is a strong correlation between social interactions and healthy well-being among older adults. It notes that babysitting grandchildren helps grandparents be more active and healthy.