This article highlights the impact of caregiving on cognitive health in later life, and how it depends on how much care is provided. Older adults who provided a moderate amount of care (around 5–9 hours per week) showed a slower decline in thinking and decision-making skills than non-carers, suggesting that caregiving can be mentally stimulating and rewarding. However, people providing very intensive care (50 or more hours per week), especially for a spouse or someone living in the same household, experienced faster cognitive decline. The findings highlight the importance of support services to prevent carers becoming overwhelmed. This article summarises findings from “Association between becoming a carer in later life and changes in the trajectory of cognitive function: results from the English longitudinal study of ageing”.
Baowen Xue | The breaking point: how intensive caregiving may accelerate cognitive decline | Public Sector Focus, 2026