Volunteering Could Slow Brain Aging

Want to age slower? Take some time to volunteer.

Research shows regular volunteering slows aging-related brain decline by 15 to 20 percent. For the study, researchers tracked over 31-thousand adults over the age of 51 for two decades. They say they saw pay off when people devoted two to four hours a week helping others. researchers suggest anything from working at a food bank…helping clean up a park…babysitting…mowing a neighbor’s lawn…or helping them prepare their taxes.

Volunteering can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, which have been shown to eat away at a person’s brain power over time. About 1 in 3 older Americans volunteer in a formal manner.