Family caregiving

5 papers10 findings

Outcomes

Cognitive function

downin humans2

2 studies

Family caregiving decreases cognitive function in humans (β = -1.06, p < .001).
“Women caregivers showed significantly lower cognitive performance (β = -1.06, p < .001), roughly equivalent to two to three years of age-related decline”
Humansin later life15 yearsfemalesn = 6,481
Cognitive vulnerability and social support among aging women caregivers
Journal of women & aging5 May 2026
Family caregiving impairs cognitive function in humans.
“Among caregivers, those who began caregiving before midlife, especially during adolescence or young adulthood, reported more physical limitations, higher depressive symptoms, and poorer cognitive function later in life.”
Humansonset before midlife
When family caregiving happens: life-course timing and health outcomes in later life
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences14 Feb 2026

Research BP-defined hypertension

no changein humans1

1 study

Family caregiving has no effect on research BP-defined hypertension in humans.
“Notably, no significant association was observed with research BP-defined hypertension.”
Humansn = 13,518
Association between caregiving duration and hypertension among family caregivers: the TMM CommCohort study
Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension13 Oct 2026

Depressive symptoms

upin humans1

1 study

Family caregiving increases depressive symptoms in humans.
“Compared with non-caregivers, caregivers exhibited more physical limitations and higher depressive symptoms, but better cognitive function on average.”
Humans
When family caregiving happens: life-course timing and health outcomes in later life
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences14 Feb 2026

Functional limitations

upin humans2

2 studies

Family caregiving is associated with functional limitations in humans.
“These experiences were significantly associated with greater functional limitations, with some variation by race.”
Humans
The toll of caregiving: life-course family care and disparities in physical functioning
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences6 Dec 2025
Family caregiving raises the risk of functional limitations in humans.
“Adverse family care profiles were linked to more functional limitations”
Humansn = 8,848
GENDERED RACIAL DISPARITIES IN FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS: EXPLORING THE ROLE OF LIFE-COURSE FAMILY CARE
GSA 2024 abstract31 Dec 2024

Evening hypertension

upin humans1

1 study

Family caregiving is associated with evening hypertension in humans (PR 1.27, 95% CI 1.03–1.56).
“and evening hypertension (PR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.03-1.56) than non-caregivers.”
HumansCompared with non-caregiversalmost all dayn = 13,518
Association between caregiving duration and hypertension among family caregivers: the TMM CommCohort study
Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension13 Oct 2026