New research backs her up: Volunteering has been linked with better scores on tests of cognitive function, according to research presented Thursday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam. “We hope these new data encourage individuals of all ages and backgrounds to engage in local volunteering — not only to benefit their communities, but potentially their own cognitive and brain health.”Previous studies have found positive links between volunteering and cognitive function. These adults were around age 74 on average and had participated in the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences Study or the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans. Barberena thinks volunteering helps maintain her cognition by engaging her memory, verbal and reasoning skills, she said. Previous studies have found socializing and physical activity, both often involved in volunteering, to be beneficial for brain health.

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Persons: Celia Barberena, Barberena, ”, “, Donna McCullough, —, it’s, Maria C, Carrillo, wasn’t, hadn’t, ” Carrillo, Yi Lor, Lor, ” Barberena, ” Lor Organizations: CNN, Alzheimer’s Association International, “ Volunteers, Alzheimer’s Association, Healthy Aging, Aging, University of California, Alliance Locations: Latina, Pacific Grove , California, Amsterdam, Davis, Monterey County, “, California’s Monterey