The relationship between volunteering and cognitive performance in older adults: A systematic review

Objectives: This systematic review aims to examine the relationship between cognition and volunteering in older adults, with a specific focus on domain-specific outcomes.Methods: In April 2023, a comprehensive search was conducted across multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria for the study were limited to longitudinal studies or randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The quality and risk of bias of the included articles were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT).Results: Out of 3575 articles retrieved, 17 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. The majority of these studies were conducted in high-income countries. Of the 17 studies reviewed, 16 found a positive asso-ciation between volunteering and cognitive benefits.Conclusion: The analysis of seventeen studies meeting the predefined inclusion criteria suggests a potential positive correlation between volunteering and cognitive function among older adults. Some demographic factors such as gender and education level were observed to have an influence on this relationship. It was found that older adults who engage in volunteering may exhibit better episodic memory, working memory, and verbal fluency compared to non-volunteers. However, due to limitations in the existing research and variations across studies, further investigation is needed to establish definitive conclusions.(c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This systematic review examines the relationship between cognition and volunteering in older adults, with a focus on domain-specific outcomes. The analysis of 17 studies suggests a potential positive correlation between volunteering and cognitive function among older adults, but further investigation is needed due to limitations and variations across studies.