Volunteering would preserve the memory of over 60s and reduce the risk of cognitive impairment by at least 27%.
In France, among the 13 million volunteers, more than 3.7 million are over 65 years old. A proportion that has tended to decrease in recent years, according to surveys carried out by France Volunteering. However, the 16 million retirees in France could well benefit from this solidarity commitment.
A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society shows, in fact, that giving of one’s time graciously is beneficial for the memory of seniors, as well as their physical and moral well-being.
In fact, participating in the construction and maintenance of social ties, mobilizing their intellectual and physical capacities seems to be a good way to prevent aging and stay in good health. Benefits once again confirmed by this work carried out by researchers at Arizona State University on 13,200 people over the age of 60 between 1998 and 2012.
Every 2 years, the volunteers were invited to take stock of their volunteer activity if they had one – 6,800 participants never joined an association during the study. In addition, they performed cognitive tests to study their memory, concentration, decision making. The scientists also noted their consumption of tobacco and alcohol, as well as their practice of physical activity.
Beneficial regardless of age
After 14 years of follow-up, the researchers report that seniors who have invested at least once in an association have less cognitive decline than those who have not volunteered, even if they smoked or were inactive. For the seniors most involved in charitable organizations, their risk of developing cognitive disorders decreases by 27%.
American researchers also point out that these benefits are observed regardless of the age at which one engages. And they are so convinced that associative involvement is good for seniors that they suggest that volunteering be prescribed by geriatricians.
For seniors, this activity is also a way to find their place in society after stopping a professional activity. “Volunteering allows a retiree to leave his home, to meet new people, to flourish in new projects … and to feel useful”, underlines France Bénévolat on its website.
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