Turn Back the Clock: The Age-Defying Edit

There’s a powerful new piece of research we had to share — because it shines a light on something many of us feel instinctively, but now science has confirmed it.

A major 20-year study following more than 31,000 adults aged 51+ has revealed something remarkable:

👉 Helping others — even just a little each week — can keep your brain healthier and slow cognitive ageing.

Published in Social Science & Medicine (2025), the study tracked how people moved in and out of helping roles over time, from formal volunteering to simple acts of support like checking on neighbours, helping with shopping or staying involved in community groups.

And the findings? They’re a blueprint for ageing well.

💡 What the researchers discovered

✨ Starting to help others boosts thinking skills.
People who began volunteering or helping showed improvements in memory, attention and reasoning — and their brains appeared to age more slowly.

✨ Staying involved amplifies the benefits.
Those who kept helping over the long term saw compounding gains. The longer they stayed engaged, the stronger the effect.

✨ There’s a sweet spot: 2–4 hours per week.
Moderate, consistent involvement brought the greatest cognitive benefits. No need for big commitments — small, steady actions are what count.

✨ Stopping suddenly can reduce gains.
People who disengaged completely lost some of the benefits, showing that consistency really matters for brain health.

🧠 Why this matters for ageing well

This research is a powerful reminder that purpose, connection and contribution aren’t just “nice extras” — they’re biological necessities for a healthier brain.

Helping others stimulates key areas linked to planning, memory, problem-solving and emotional regulation.
In other words:

👉 Helping helps the helper — deeply, measurably and sustainably.

And when you add physical activity into the mix?
You’ve got one of the strongest combinations for healthy ageing we know of.

💚 Why this matters for Move it or Lose it

Our classes aren’t just exercise sessions — they’re communities.
People connect, laugh, support one another and build meaningful relationships. That is helping behaviour, and it all counts.

And now we know:
These moments don’t just lift spirits — they help protect brain health.

If class members feel inspired to do even more, our charity partner, Royal Voluntary Service, makes it incredibly easy to find meaningful local or online roles through their Volunteer Revolution platform.

👉 Explore opportunities: https://govo.org/

A small weekly commitment could be one of the most powerful things they do to keep their minds sharp.

✅ Key Takeaways

💚 Helping helps the helper.
Supporting others — formally or informally — slows cognitive ageing and strengthens thinking skills.

🕓 Consistency beats intensity.
Just 2–4 hours a week of helping delivers the biggest benefits.

🌟 Move it or Lose it classes spark more than movement.
Every supportive interaction in a Move it or Lose it class helps build stronger brains, stronger communities and more purposeful lives.