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