A new study from University College London (UCL) has found that providing unpaid care for 50 or more hours per week leads to accelerated cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults. However, lighter caregiving responsibilities of just five to nine hours weekly can enhance brain health, with benefits lasting into later life.
Double-Edged Sword of Caregiving
Dr Baowen Xue, lead author of the report and an academic at UCL, described caring responsibilities as a 'double-edged sword'. 'Lighter caring can provide mental stimulation and a sense of purpose, but being overloaded with tasks has the opposite effect, accelerating mental decline,' she said.
Carers UK called the findings 'extremely worrying', highlighting that long hours of care raise risks of social isolation and burnout. The charity's research shows 74% of carers feel stressed or anxious, and 40% feel depressed.
Study Details
Researchers compared cognitive health data from 2,765 carers aged 50 and over with 2,765 non-carers of the same age from the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing. They focused on executive function and memory. Participants averaged 60 years old, and 56% were women.
The paper, published in Age and Ageing, noted that manageable caregiving may provide cognitively stimulating activities that help maintain executive function. In contrast, high-intensity care (50+ hours weekly) overshadowed these benefits, leading to accelerated decline.
Impact of Living Arrangements
Caring for someone within the same household led to quicker cognitive decline than caring for someone outside the household. The researchers attributed this to increased demands and reduced opportunities for work or social life among full-time carers.
Growing Care Demands
The 2021 UK census found 5.8 million unpaid carers, with 1.7 million providing at least 50 hours weekly. Joseph Rowntree Foundation research noted a 71% rise in adults caring over 35 hours per week between 2003-04 and 2023-24.
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, urged the government, local councils, and the NHS to provide more support for family carers. The UCL team called for better access to funded formal and replacement care for intensive carers.
Caroline Abrahams of Age UK emphasised that caring itself is not the problem, but carers need support to maintain their own health and wellbeing. 'We must help them find time for rest, sleep, and activities they enjoy,' she said.
