Rally’s still waiting on his first grandkid — but that’s not stopping him from sharing some surprisingly good news about what those little bundles of boundless energy can do for your brain. Turns out, staying involved with the grandchildren isn’t just heartwarming — it may help protect your cognitive health! (Maybe keep this study’s results to yourself!)
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Rally:
Hey there, Beautiful People — welcome back to the Silver Beast Podcast.
Thanks for taking a break and dropping by today.
I’m Rally Preston. Seventy years old. And oh boy, closing in on another birthday next month.
For my birthday present, I just want something little. Like a grandkid. Just one is fine. Boy or girl – I’m not picky. Just something I’ve always wanted. Just putting it out there for anyone who’s listening – like my married-but-childless son.
Speaking of grandkids – did you know they may be one of the best things ever for your brain. Yep, that’s what the science says.
That wasn’t the case for me. When I was born, I was colicky and jaundiced. I was like a bag of Cheetos that wouldn’t stop screaming. My poor grandparents, we were at their house after I was born. No warm and fuzzy memories for them. All that crying and wailing, aww.
Ok, let’s get back to your perfect little angels – your grandchildren. And how grandparenting is actually great for your brain health.
So this new study was published earlier this year, from the American Psychological Association. This one tracked around 3000 grandparents for over six years.
Here’s what they found:
Grandparents who helped care for their grandchildren scored a lot higher on memory tests and verbal fluency compared to grandparents who weren’t as involved.
Now, verbal fluency is just how quick and easy words come to you. You know, when you struggle to come up with somebody’s name. Or you can’t think of the right word you want to use. And man, I can relate to that. Anyway, that’s verbal fluency.
So back to this study.
The grandparents who were really into their grandkids — watching them, playing with them, driving them around, maybe helping out with homework — those grandparents scored measurably better on cognitive tests.
Now you might be thinking, yeah, I knew that – grandkids keep you young and all. And I’ve always heard that too. But now there’s actual science behind it.
Now, there’s more to this study…and this is interesting:
And the researchers found it wasn’t about how often the grandparents were pitching in. So not about all the babysitting hours or all those frequent flier miles spent visiting.
Grandparents got the health benefits from simply being involved. Being a caring grandparent actively participating in those kids’ lives. That’s what mattered most for this.
And for the grandmothers – now specifically for them — the researchers found that grandmas who really got into the caregiving, they actually showed slower cognitive decline over the study’s six-year period compared to grandmothers who weren’t involved as much.
OK, you grandpas – you guys showed better baseline cognitive scores, too, when you got in there and were mixing it up with the kiddos. But interesting thing here, the cognitive benefits showed up stronger for the grandmothers. Sorry, guys – must be a maternal thing. God bless ‘em…grandmas deserve it.
And here’s something I thought was interesting — the research found that variety mattered. So, a mix of different activities with the grandkids paid off more in higher cognitive scores. So doing a puzzle with the kids, reading to them, baking something together, shooting hoops in the driveway – that kind of variety gives your brain a real workout.
So I know some of you must be thinking, hoping – praying maybe – that your kids don’t find out about this study. The brain benefits of grandparenting. You could be babysitting 24/7 if the word gets out. It could be a concern – yeah, I get it.
But, here’s the other part of this study. And feel free to tell them this, just nicely, you know.
So the cognitive benefits of grandparenting seem to apply most when the caregiving is voluntary. You know, when if feels like a choice, not a…uh, not like an obligation. Gotta do it, no matter what kind of thing. Not good. And this is in the study.
So if you’re getting pressured. You know, it’s just too much. It’s exhausting, you’re feeling resentful maybe… That’s where they say you should set some limits. If you need to.
This study says that meaningful, manageable involvement is the sweet spot. So, grandparenting on your own terms. That’s where you get the most brain health benefits. Ok, enough said there.
Alright, let’s put this study’s new insights into the benefits of grandparenting to work for you.
OK, Action Step One: If you’ve got grandkids in your life — near or far — make one move this week to stay involved. Call them. FaceTime them. Plan a visit. Whatever you can do. Having my grandparents involved in my life, especially early on, meant the world to me. Just saying.
Action Step Two: Mix it up. So the study says don’t do the same thing with the grandkids every time. The benefits are better with a little more variety. So read with them, cook something together, take a walk, help with a school project. Teach them something you know how to do. You know, I learned woodburning from my grandpa…you know, where you draw a picture on wood with that hot soldering iron thing. Very old school entertainment. Probably too dangerous now. But you get the idea. Mix up the involvement with different activities.
Action Step Three: If your grandkids aren’t nearby — or if you’re not a grandparent yet — like me, darn it! – here’s what you can do. Well, two things, really: You can order that bumper sticker that says: Dogs Make The Best Grandkids. No, it’s not good. Or, option two: mentor a young person. That’s kind of de facto grandparenting, right? That’s good. My dad did this. Volunteer with kids’ organizations in your community. Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Tutoring. Whatever. Something. The brain benefits from this, too. Multi-generational engagement and mental stimulation. Nothing says they have to be your official grandkids, right? So think about that one.
Last one, Action Step Four: This one’s for the grandparents who feel a little guilty saying “no” sometimes. But say it anyway if you need to. I ran into this situation a few times, just watching friends’ kids for them. I was always the Kool-Aid dad, right? That was what? In my forties, maybe. But it got to be too much sometimes. I’m sure it’s much tougher when you’re older. So just set a schedule that works for you — one you’re happy to show up for. That’s the kind of grandparenting that both you and the grandkids can really get something out of.
Alright, let’s wrap this one up, Silver Beasties:
The science is saying spending meaningful time with your grandchildren is literally good for your brain.
Real cognitive protection. Better memory. Better verbal fluency. And especially for you, grandmothers — potentially slower cognitive decline over time. Very nice.
And all you really have to do is show up. Be present. Do a few different things together.
Look at it this way: You’ve already raised your kids. You’ve done the hard part.
Now, just being a good grandparent is paying you back with a healthier brain. Now it’s just a partial payment – oh, they still owe you. Big time. Don’t let them off the hook.
Alright, this is Rally Preston — and hey, have fun with those grandkids, and you know, I’m sure I will too, someday, maybe?
Alright, I’ll catch you next time on the Silver Beast Podcast. Take care!