Cognitive Impairment in Grandparents: A Systematic Review

Autores da FMUP

• Lídia Sousa Bom

  Autor

• Lia Paula Nogueira Sousa Fernandes

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Rafael, A
• Martins, S.

Unidades de investigação

• Laboratório Associado RISE- Rede de Investigação em Saúde

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

• Neurociências Clínicas e Saúde Mental

• RISE-Health

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the relationship between grandparenting and the cognitive impairment in older persons. Methods The protocol was submitted to the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), registration number: CRD42018105849. Authors conducted a systematic review, following "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses" (PRISMA) recommendations. Electronic databases were accessed through august 2018: PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. Selection of records and quality appraisal were made by two reviewers, independently. Results A total of 178 records was found, after removing duplicates. From those, 17 were considered eligible for integral text reading and eight were included: five original studies, one classic review and two editorials. From the five original studies included, four suggested a positive effect on cognition resulting from grandparenting and one suggested that there was no evidence for a causal effect. Though the boundary was not consensual, some studies suggested that a higher frequency of grandparenting has a negative impact on cognition. Conclusion Overall, studies suggested a trend towards a positive effect of grandchild care on grandparents' cognition. However, there was a significant heterogeneity between methodologies and a significant risk of bias which can hamper conclusions, indicating the need for further and more robust research. Psychiatry Investig 2021;18(7):593-602

Keywords

• Cognitive dysfunction; Child care; Grandparenting; Grandparents; Infant care