Help Others to Help Yourself

Not only is volunteering a great way to help out and grow your social connections, but it’s also fantastic for the health of your brain. In this week’s blog post, we’ll reveal how altruistic behaviors can positively impact mental health, cognitive function, and foster greater neurological resilience over time. 

The social stuff

In previous posts, we’ve spoken about how social isolation can cause physical changes within the brain that pose a variety of risks, from poor mental health to an increased risk of developing memory-related disorders. And volunteering is a great way to combat this, providing the crucial connections that help to keep our brain engaged and healthy. 

Cognitive benefits

Whether you’re tutoring, helping to organize events, or managing projects, volunteering always involves some form of challenge that provides a stimulating environment for the brain. Having to problem-solve, learn new skills, and interact with others promotes neuroplasticity and aids the formation of new neural connections.

Mental health matters

Perhaps one of the more well-known effects of altruism is its impressive impact on mental health. Studies have revealed that volunteering can lead to reduced levels of both anxiety and depression. The reason for this is multi-faceted: our social interaction levels increase; we enjoy emotional support which enhances feelings of belonging, and this leads to reduced cortisol and lower stress levels. It’s a no-brainer!

The longer-term 

While the short-term benefits of volunteering are noteworthy, taking part in such behaviors over the longer term can have even more impactful results for our brain health. Research has shown that those who engage in regular voluntary work exhibit higher levels of cognitive functioning and have a reduced risk of a variety of age-related neurological conditions, such as dementia. 

Build a more resilient brain

Volunteering often involves physical activity, which as we know helps to promote neurogenesis and increases the production of BDNF, or brain-derived neurotrophic factor that contributes to optimal mental health and cognitive function. On top of that, the diversity of environments that helping others can put us in encourages the brain to constantly process new information. And adapting to various challenges is a valuable way of strengthening overall neurological robustness.