UCL finds 50-plus carers working 50 hours risk cognitive decline
Technology
A new study from University College London says that people aged 50 or over who spend 50 hours or more a week caring for someone are at higher risk of quicker cognitive decline.
Researchers found these long hours can lead to loneliness and poor sleep, and caring for someone in the household was linked to a quicker decline in cognitive function than caring for someone outside the household.
Experts call for UK carer support
On the flip side, helping out just a few hours a week (5-9 hours) can actually boost brain health by keeping you social and giving you purpose.
With about 1.7 million people in the UK doing intense unpaid care work (and most reporting stress or depression), experts say it's time for better government support to protect carers' well-being.