A licensed psychologist and clinical social worker, Miriam Galindo, Psy. D. maintains a solo practice clinic in Irvine, California, where she provides child-family reunification and co-parenting counseling for high-conflict divorce cases from the Orange County Superior Court’s Family Law Division. Outside her work, Dr. Miriam Galindo helps raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
There is a new way by which people, especially older adults, can protect their brains from cognitive decline or dementia. Researchers from UC Davis Health found that volunteering, especially later in life, is linked with better cognitive function.
The study was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2023 in Amsterdam in July. The study stated that volunteer activities make older adults more physically active and allow them to interact with others socially. Such activities promote cognitive stimulation, which may effectively protect the brain.
The study focused on 2,476 older adults, averaging 74, from diverse races and ethnicities. Forty-eight percent were Black, 20 percent were white, 17 percent were Asian, and 14 percent were Latino. Of these participants, 1,167 engaged in volunteer activities in the last year. The researchers found that those who volunteered in various activities a few times per week showed high levels of executive function and episodic memory.
However, the researchers said there is insufficient information to examine the link between volunteering and better cognitive function in a large population.
