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How your social life protects your brain and memory Can simply socializing with friends and family protect your brain and your memory as you age? Research has shown that people who have a small or nonexistent social circle or who are generally less engaged with other people are at greater risk of developing memory loss. A 2008 study put this association to the test by drawing on data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a biannual survey of older adults that began in 1992 and is funded by the National Institute on Aging. Subjects in the HRS are a representative sample of U.S. residents over age 50. Investigators from the Harvard School of Public Health used information gathered from more than 16,000 HRS subjects between 1998 and 2004. Because the study spans several years, the researchers could draw conclusions about the crucial issue of causation. They could ask, does being socially active protect against memory loss? Or is it the other way around—do people who suffer cognitive decline tend to socialize less than average? The results were impressive. People with the highest levels of interaction with family, friends, and other people were more likely to retain cognitive functioning. This connection was particularly prominent among people most at risk for dementia: those who had fewer than 12 years of education and those with "vascular conditions" (defined as high blood pressure, diabetes, or stroke). And since social interactions were measured before cognitive decline was apparent, the cause-effect relationships seem to hold up. Another study done at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, a large health maintenance organization, looked at the effect of social networks on more than 2,200 female members. These participants, who were at least 78 years old, did not show any symptoms of dementia in 2001, when the study started. The women were given follow-up interviews over the next four years. The authors found that women with large social networks were less likely to develop dementia than were more isolated women. This finding held up when the researchers controlled for age, education, and depression and other health conditions. How social contact helps The two studies do not tell us how social integration protects against cognitive decline, but the authors suggest some possibilities. Regular social contact may not only promote healthier behaviors but also make it easier to get medical help when necessary. For example, friends and family may give helpful nudges to get a troubling symptom evaluated by a doctor, and then offer a ride to the medical office. Individuals may feel motivated to do what others in their life are doing to take care of themselves. And group pursuits may simply lead to more activity and exercise. In addition, when people are more integrated into a social network and feel supported in their relationships, they may experience less stress—and avoid triggering stress hormones that may interfere with brain function. A rich social life may also be more emotionally and intellectually stimulating, exercising the brain and fostering better neuronal connections and even nerve cell growth. The authors acknowledge the limitations of both studies. It would have been useful to have more detail about the quality of participants' social connections. And one of the studies only included women. Nevertheless, the studies were unique because of the large pool of data obtained over several years. The results support the theory that social networks are a boon to intellectual health in later life. Clinicians and policymakers can now take note: programs that keep older adults engaged and involved in their social life are likely to yield good results. Until the pharmacological treatment of dementia improves, relationships may be the most powerful treatment we have. Creating new social connections in your life Over time, social bonds can be broken. Older adults often face a time when close friends and relatives die. That's why it's important to grasp opportunities to expand your social circle and deepen ties you've already made:
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