This isn’t welcome news for those hoping to get ahead in life: one study has found that the key to keeping a sharp memory may be doing more housework.
The combination of light household chores like washing, making beds, cleaning and cooking, and heavy chores, including window cleaning and vacuuming, have emerged to keep people in good shape. better. This association was seen independently of other physical activity levels of people over 65 during their work or leisure time, the researchers say.
Their paper, published in the BMJ Open, is based on nearly 500 adults in Singapore who underwent tests to determine their physical and cognitive health.
They were divided into two age groups; from 21 to 54, with a median age of 44, and from 65 to 90, with a median age of 75.
Results of memory tests and physical tests, such as how quickly a person moves from a sitting position to standing and walking, show that housework is related to the ability to mentally sharper and more physically capable, but only in the older group.
Cognitive scores were 8% and 5% higher, respectively, in people over 65 who did a lot of light or heavy housework, compared with those who did less. Time to standing was 8% faster in those with heavier housework and 23% higher balance scores.
Similar findings may not be found in the younger group as they had an average of 5 years more education, which in itself is associated with slower mental agility and cognitive decline. The study is observational and cannot prove cause and effect.
