Longitudinal Evidence on Grandparenting and Cognitive Function in Older Adults in China

The current study aimed to investigate the association between grandparenting intensity and cognitive function over time in older grandparents in China. We also assessed whether the association was modified by gender, living arrangements, and urban/rural residence. Mixed-effects modeling was applied to analyze a sample of 938 adults aged 60 and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Older age combining with heavy load of caregiving to grandchildren accelerated the decline in grandparents' global cognitive function and episodic memory, while urban residency moderated episodic memory decline. Greater attention on grandparenting might yield improved social support, policy, and interventions on cognitive health for the general older population.