The role of social ties in the cognitive function of older informal caregivers: findings from a population-based propensity-matched analysis

OBJECTIVES: Prior research suggests caregiving is linked to health outcomes in later life, yet evidence on cognitive function remains mixed. We examined whether informal caregiving at baseline is associated with follow-up cognitive function and whether baseline close social ties or perceived social support help explain this association. METHODS: Using Health and Retirement Study data, we pooled respondents who completed the psychosocial questionnaire in 2016 or 2018 (baseline) and assessed cognitive function two years later (2018 for the 2016 baseline; 2020 for the 2018 baseline). We applied propensity score matching to compare caregivers and non-caregivers on follow-up cognitive function. We used mediation analysis to evaluate indirect associations via baseline close social ties and perceived social support. RESULTS: After matching, caregivers had higher follow-up cognitive function than comparable non-caregivers. Adjusting for the number of close social ties attenuated the caregiving-cognition association, suggesting a small indirect association via close ties. We found no evidence of an indirect association via perceived social support. DISCUSSION: In the matched sample, caregiving was associated with better cognitive function, and the association was attenuated after accounting for close social ties. Research should examine pathways linking caregiving to cognition and interventions leveraging social connections to mitigate cognitive decline.