DR MAX PEMBERTON: Caring for grandchildren is better than any pill

Getting old isn’t always easy. Still, one of the main complaints I hear from older patients is not the aches and pains that come with age, nor that things aren’t working the way they used to. I’ve noticed that people tend to understand and accept those new restrictions.

No, what really brings people down is loneliness. That’s the hardest part of getting up – the part they can’t stand.

Isolation destroys the lives of many elderly people and can be difficult to deal with. Still, a new study from King’s College London has shown that taking care of children is one of the most effective ways to combat it.

On the other hand, it turned out that taking care of a spouse did not help. Caring for a sick partner can actually make you feel lonelier.

Isolation destroys the lives of many elderly people and can be difficult to deal with. Yet a new study from King’s College, London, has shown that taking care of children is one of the most effective ways to combat it

Taking care of children – whether it be your own flesh and blood or someone else’s – greatly reduced the feeling of isolation.

There are an estimated 1.2 million lonely elderly people in the country, and aside from the emotional toll, the physical effects are comparable to smoking and obesity, according to a Harvard study earlier this year. Experts believe that the chronic inflammation caused by being lonely and unhappy causes damage to cells and vital organs.

The elderly are an underused and underappreciated resource in our society. Looking after the grandchildren not only helps older people, but there are huge benefits for the younger ones as well.

Today, grandparents are absolutely essential for so many young children. As families become increasingly fragmented, it is often the older generation that provides consistency and stability.

While the parents are at work, it is the grandparents who collect the children from school, sit with them while they do their homework and pick them up when they fall over.

During a divorce, it is often the grandparents who provide a sense of safety and security. From a psychological perspective, this is so important because we know the damage a split can do to young people.

Of course, being a grandparent isn’t easy. You have to walk a delicate line between being an authority figure to the child, being their friend and confidant, but not stepping on the parent’s toes. It’s hard to find the right balance.

Dr. Max Pemberton (pictured) believes that the elderly are an underused and underappreciated resource in our society. He says babysitting is good for both them and the youth

And then there’s the fact that there are plenty of older people who are retiring with exciting plans to travel or take up hobbies, and sometimes feel compelled to take care of childcare. But rest assured, the work you do is invaluable.

Children may be our future, but the older generation is the custodian of our past. We need them to root ourselves in history and pass on traditions.

They’ve seen it all before. Not only can they pass on wise advice from their own experience, but they can also calm and reassure in times of uncertainty and turbulence.

They make us feel grounded, provide reassurance and a sense of belonging. They can also help us learn and understand more about ourselves.

Grandparents are a rich source of stories, not only about our families but also about what happened in the past. They are also very good at walking the fine line between being caring and adoring, encouraging young people to build a sense of resilience that is so prevalent in the older generation and often so lacking in the younger ones.

The skills they nurture and encourage in young children and adolescents are the ones that will equip them for the vicissitudes of life well into adulthood.

My grandfather died before I was born, but the unconditional love I had from my remaining Nan, Grandma and Grandpa has stayed with me and supported me well into adulthood. Even though they passed away years ago, I still think of them all with great love and affection, and I am deeply indebted to them for their kindness and the many things they taught me.

They were my absolute champions – completely devoted to me, but to a parent in a different way.

Not only did they give me a sense of connection to my past and a strong sense of identity, but also a unique warmth and a sense of deep security because I knew I was the most important thing in their world to them. I know they would have done anything for me.

It is difficult to put a price on the relationship between child and grandparent. The benefits for both are way better than any pill I could prescribe.

Exercise to stave off Alzheimer’s disease

Chris Hemsworth (pictured) has revealed he has a gene that increases his risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 15 times

Thor star Chris Hemsworth has revealed he has a gene that increases his risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 15 times. One in 20 people reading this has the same thing. The gene, called APOE4, doubles one’s risk, but having two copies, like Chris (left), significantly increases one’s risk. Experts say, however, that most carriers are able to “outrun” their genetics, meaning that if they take care of themselves, exercise and eat right, their risks are reduced to a level similar to those without the gene. About 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week is needed: this includes cycling, swimming, power walking or strenuous gardening. It shows that we are so much more than our genes, and how environmental factors – such as how healthy we choose a lifestyle – influence our health in such an important way. People roll their eyes when doctors talk about eating healthy and staying active, but there are really, really good reasons why we go on about it so much.

GPs will be called and shamed if they don’t see enough patients face-to-face. I’ve had patients struggle to get appointments with their GP and yes, it causes worry and anger. But I’m not sure naming and shaming is the solution. Morale among GPs is already at an all time low and I don’t think this is going to screw up.

• Japanese fans have wowed the crowds in Qatar by cleaning up the World Cup stadiums after matches – collecting rubbish row after row. Gosh, they make their country proud! I’m afraid I doubt British fans would do the same. Litter is a bit of a bête noire of mine, which I think is partly because we were taught during my mental health training that our environment has such a big influence on what goes on in our heads. Litter communicates disinterest and decay, and this leads to further antisocial behavior. I never walk past a litter I see. If we all took a leaf out of the Japanese fans’ book, I’m sure we’d all be happier.

Dr Max writes for…

ONE APPLE a day (really!)

It is often said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but now an in-depth review of over 150 studies has shown that this could be true. It concluded that flavan-3-ols, a compound found in high amounts in apples, may improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. For maximum benefits, aim for 500 mg of flava-3-ol per day, which is equivalent to an apple, some berries and two cups of tea.