Sayings about the joys of being grandparents are numerous. For instance: "If children are the rainbow of life, then grandchildren are the pot of gold."

Well, there's another remarkable reward of being a grandparent. According to a study published in the journal Psychology and Aging, it helps protect your brain power.

Researchers looked at data on more than 2,800 grandparents (average age 67) who took cognitive tests between 2016 and 2022. Caregiving grandparents scored higher on memory and verbal skills compared to control subjects who did not provide care childcare, no matter how often they interacted with their grandkids.

The most potent boosts to brain power came from doing homework together and sharing leisure activities (exploring, playing games, having fun).

Another multiyear study in JAMA Open Network found that non-intensive caring for grandkids (less than 39 hours a week) cuts dementia risk by 28%.

Whether you're able to provide care for grandkids or not, these studies highlight the importance of affectionate intergenerational relationships. If you don't have grandkids or they live far away, you can gain the benefits by volunteering at a local school, YMCA, a community service that helps kids with activities such as studies, sports, gardening, or through online interactions.

Taking those steps also helps ease loneliness and can reduce your fall risk and help fend off frailty.