A new study has revealed that having three or more children can accelerate their aging by making parents look 6.2 years older.
Researchers from Columbia University analyzed information from a database on health, ageing and retirement in Europe, which included surveys of thousands of people in 20 European countries with at least two children over the age of 65.
The research found that having three or more children has a “negative effect on cognition at an advanced age,” which is equivalent to being 6.2 years older.
The research team pointed out that the reason for this is not yet clear, but they report that they have various theories about it.
One of these theories is that parents who have more than two children face huge financial costs, which reduces family income and increases the likelihood of falling below the poverty line.
This decline in living standards leads to cognitive decline.
Dr Vigaard Scherbeek, author of the study, said: “Understanding the factors contributing to cognitive decline and accelerated ageing is crucial at both an individual and societal level, especially in Europe, where the population is rapidly ageing.
The team is currently working on the impact of not having children or having a child.
