A study published in February in the journal BMC Geriatrics found that performing routine household chores—like gardening, vacuuming, sweeping, doing laundry, and reorganizing the winter coat closet—had positive associations with both brain volume and cognition in older adults. The study cites a few possible reasons for the outcome.
One, chores by nature get people up and moving, which leads to less time being sendentary—a common and harmful lifestyle habit connected with decreased brain function and wellbeing, particularly as adults age.
Two, it's safe to assume that performing manual household tasks, vigorous enough, can result in similar physical exertion to that of low-intensity aerobic exercise (think: walking, light yoga, or low-resistance cycling).
And third, the planning and organization involved in household chores may promote the formation of new neural connections over time, even as we age.