Older people risk mental decline if they do long hours of caring, UK study shows

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/13/older-people-risk-mental-decline-if-they-do-long-hours-of-caring-uk-study-shows

Researchers find 50+ hours a week can be detrimental to health but lighter responsibilities have positive effect

“Providing a few hours of support outside the household may help caregivers maintain their cognitive health as they age.”

In contrast, though, “carers providing 50+ hours of care a week exhibited accelerated cognitive decline, indicating that the cognitive stimulation associated with caring is overshadowed by the demands of high-intensity care”, the researchers wrote.

Link to the paper

63 points · 5 comments · view on lemmy.world

5 Comments

amateurcrastinator@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 99d (1 reply)

Well that's why as you get older you start to give less and less fucks

ikidd@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 98d

Done and done.

ProfThadBach@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 99d

Well then I got this beat. I don't care about anything.

finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 98d

Given they're probably talking about situations where an elderly person is caring for their partner (often solely, due to expense), the carer likely puts their own needs after their loved one, leading to less sleep, poorer nutrition (just grabbing a snack out of time restraints/exhaustion, instead of a nutritious meal), etc.

In that situation, carers might not see it as a problem, so long as their partner is put first (which is only natural), but it will wear anyone down. To say nothing of the emotional toll seeing their partner deteriorate on a daily basis would bring (which wouldn't be helped by poorer nutrition/exhaustion, etc).

Make some time to care for yourself, carers in that situation, so you can care for them.

phase@lemmy.8th.world · 1 pts · 98d

50+ ? Are we talking about over hours or parenting/home care?