Heavy caring responsibilities could accelerate cognitive decline, suggests study

High-intensity caring responsibilities may reduce brain function in people aged over 50, a study has suggested.

The research, published in Age and Ageing by University College London (UCL), used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) – a survey that gathers a wide range of information from around 20,000 people aged 50 and older in England who are re-interviewed every two years.

Researchers used 2004/2005 to 2021/2023 data to gather information about participants’ caring responsibilities and their physical and mental health.

It revealed that high-intensity caring responsibilities could reduce brain function for people aged 50 and over, whereas light caring duties can be beneficial.

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Researchers measured participants brain function and how it changed over time, asking questions to assess a person’s ‘executive function’ and memory.

They found that those providing very intensive care (50 hours or more per week), caring within the household, or caring for a spouse/partner, showed a more ‘rapid decline’ in brain function than non-carers.

However, they found that those taking on lower-intensity caring responsibilities (from five to nine hours per week), caring outside the household, and caring for parents/parents-in-law showed a slower decline in brain function than non-carers.

Researchers found that high-intensity carers experienced an extra level of cognitive decline equivalent to about one third of the normal decline seen each year with ageing.

Conversely, lighter intensity carers showed a slower decline, ‘offsetting’ about one third of the usual annual decline in brain function.

The research found that memory changes were similar but displayed a ‘weaker pattern’.

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Now, researchers are calling on the government to provide carers with a higher caring workload better access to funded ‘formal care and replacement care’ such as district nurses.

Lead author Dr Baowen Xue said: ‘Our study shows that the caring responsibilities many people take on later in life can be a double-edged sword.

‘On the one hand, lighter caring responsibilities can be good for you by providing mental stimulation from interacting with loved ones or others you’re helping and a sense of purpose and usefulness, but being overloaded with caring tasks has exactly the opposite effect and can accelerate people’s mental decline in terms of not being as mentally sharp or quick-thinking as they used to be.

‘By 2040, around 20% of adults in England will be living with major illnesses. With the NHS struggling to cope and social care in crisis, much of this growing demand for care will fall on family members and friends who step in as unpaid carers.

‘Intensive carers are most at risk and need stronger support to prevent overload. Lower intensity carers, who may benefit cognitively, should be supported to keep their caring roles manageable.

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‘For policymakers, understanding carers’ health outcomes, as highlighted by our findings, will be essential for designing policies and interventions that protect both those who provide care and those who receive it.’

The research built on a previous study by University College London (UCL) which assessed the cognitive function in older people and factors that influence it such as a gender, mental health, alcohol consumption and smoking.