The SPAN study began in 2007 with about 1,600 people in middle age. It now follows 500 of them as they enter the grandparent years. Researchers in the St. Louis area study how grandparents and grandchildren talk and how these talks have changed over time.
The team asked grandparents which topics they discuss with grandchildren and to compare current talks with what they remember discussing with their own grandparents. They found this generation talks much more than earlier ones. Longer lifespans and more communication technology have made grandparents easier to reach. Digital contact was the most common way generations communicated, and calling or texting older adults can be valuable. The study also found gender and cultural differences in topics.
Difficult words
- generation — people born around the same time period
- lifespan — the length of a person's lifelifespans
- technology — machines and tools used for practical purposes
- digital — using computers or electronic devices
- communicate — to share information or ideas with otherscommunicated
- gender — the social roles of men and women
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Related articles
Twenty Minutes Twice a Week May Slow Dementia
A new study led by Texas A&M researchers found that 20 minutes of exercise twice weekly may help slow dementia progression in older adults. The team used 2012–2020 Health and Retirement Study data and noted some study limits.
Most Older Americans Still Drive but Many Have No Plan
A national poll finds 84% of people 65 and older drive at least once a week, yet 54% of drivers in that group have no plan if they must stop driving. The survey was done in February 2025 with 2,883 respondents.
Mongolia lifts spring horse-racing ban
On January 29 Mongolia ended a ban on spring horse races that began in 2019. The change allows races from March while winter events stay banned, and it has sparked debate over child jockey safety and cultural tradition.
Dongbeihua: Northeastern Mandarin in Chinese Stand-up
Chinese social media and video platforms helped stand-up reach a wide audience. With tighter censorship after 2013, comedians turned to dialect humour and Dongbeihua became the dominant tongue of Chinese stand-up.
Summer School: a film about a Czech–Vietnamese family
Summer School (Letní škola) is set in 2001 and follows a Czech‑Vietnamese family in Cheb. The film explores language, identity and family tensions and was shown at Karlovy Vary in July 2025 before reaching Czech cinemas.
Pigeon Peas Festival in Diego Martin
Florence Warrick-Joseph started a pigeon peas festival in Diego Martin after a course in 2014 and a big crop. The 2015 festival brought community recipes, new dishes and new pigeon-pea products, and she plans supermarket sales.