People with three or more children show greater cognitive burden and faster brain aging, concluded a international study that included Greece. It is the first study to link the birth of many children and the creation of a large family to the worst brain health of parents later in life.
Researchers from the US School of Public Health and the Center for Aging at Columbia University in New York and France (Paris-Dauphine University – PSL in Paris), who published the study in the journal Demography, analyzed data from the Health Survey. Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) for 20 European countries and Israel, involving people over 65 who had at least two biological children.
It was found that from three children and up there is an increased chance for worse cognitive function in old age, something that applies equally to men and women. The correlation seems more pronounced in northern Europe than in southern Europe.
“The negative impact of having three or more children on cognitive function is not negligible, but is equivalent to 6.2 years of aging,” said researcher Eric Bonsang. This, he estimated, means that, as the proportion of Europeans with many children in the total European population decreases, there will be a positive impact on the cognitive-mental health of older people in Europe.
“Given the magnitude of the impact,” said researcher Vegard Skirbeck, “future studies of cognitive health in later life should also look at fertility as a predictor along with other more established factors, work experience, physical exercise and physical and mental health. In addition, future research should look at the potential effects of having or having only one child on future brain health. “
To date, fertility has not received much attention as a possible prognostic indicator of the cognitive state of the elderly. The researchers reported that fertility can affect cognitive function in the later stage of life through various ways. One possible explanation is that each additional child often means extra financial burden, reduced family income and an increased chance of the family being below the poverty line, thus reducing the quality of life for all family members, resulting in uncertainty and stress. adversely affecting the brain.
Also, raising many children can prove to be very stressful in itself, thus increasing the risks to physical and mental health. People with many children have less time to relax and invest in leisure activities that stimulate cognitive function.
On the other hand, parents with many children have a lower risk of social isolation and loneliness, which are known risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia. The latter become more frequent as the population ages (ie the proportion of older people increases).
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