On any given day as a parent, it may feel as though raising kids is making you age faster. We’ve all had moments where the stresses and challenges of parenting feel overwhelming. The mental load of parenting is real. However, new research shows that the relationship you’re establishing with your child may actually help keep your brain young.
This Is Your Brain on Parenting
A study recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that, compared with individuals without children, parents tend to have stronger brain connectivity as they age. Interestingly, this pattern was shown to increase with each additional child—the more children you have, the healthier your brain.
At first glance, it may seem that these brain changes might be isolated to moms. We know that the hormonal changes in pregnancy can affect all aspects of the body, including the brain. However, this study showed the positive impact of parenting on brain health for both men and women.
Specifically, the study showed that the brain regions that were the most impacted were those controlling movement, sensation, and social connection. Parents tended to have higher brain connectivity in these areas. These are the same areas of the brain that typically show signs of aging over time. However, for parents, these areas showed increased connectivity, which implies less decline with age.
Brain connectivity is important because it shows how well the different parts of the brain are communicating with one another. Better connectivity is typically linked to strong cognitive skills and memory.
Parenting May Help Keep Your Brain Young
This new research goes against the common cultural narrative about parenting. We often hear about the stressful aspects of parenting, making us feel older and “giving us gray hairs.”
Although it may feel that way some days, parenting may actually be making your brain stronger and more resilient to the effects of aging. Consider your daily life as a parent.
Here are just a few of the brain-building skills you probably tackle on an average day:
- Mental multi-tasking: making a grocery list while adding events to your schedule
- Emotional regulation: trying to keep calm when your child is having a tantrum
- Planning and memory: remembering to iron your child’s band uniform and make a plan for dinner
- Physical activity: playing catch with your child, or chasing your toddler at the park
All these chores, tasks, and activities you do with your children may be fostering greater brain health.
Social Connection Is A Key To Healthy Aging
Of course, the details are important in a study like this. There needs to be a lot more research in this area to tease apart the causal nature of this finding. The scholars suggest that the factors most influential in this brain health study are the social interactions and social support that come with having children. This means that it’s not only the caregiving tasks, but it’s actually the relationships you’re building with children that are protective for brain health over time.
Parenting sets you on a path to have a strong social relationship with your child for decades to come. This means you’re less likely to be lonely and socially isolated, and more likely to have support as you age (both emotionally and physically).
If you’re a parent in the trenches of raising young children, it can feel mentally and physically taxing. This research offers reassurance that all the work you’re doing to build a strong relationship with your child is a meaningful investment in their future and yours.
