More social interaction could be good for seniors’ brain health and help prevent dementia, new research suggests.
July 13, 2023 --
The study found a link between loneliness in older adults and less brain volume, especially in the areas that are affected by dementia.The results were published in the journal“Lower frequency of social contact was associated with decreased total and cognitive function-related regional brain volumes,” the report says. “In addition, depressive symptoms partially explained the association in community-dwelling older people without dementia in Japan.
The study doesn’t prove that social isolation causes the brain to shrink. Researchers say it suggests there are potential benefits of social engagement in maintaining brain volume and preventing dementia.highlighted three findings. First, decreased brain volume was found in the hippocampus and amygdala, the report says. Second, participants who had the least social contact had more white matter lesions indicative of brain damage.
Researchers accounted for other factors that could affect brain size, including smoking, exercise, and diabetes. “Since the study involved only older Japanese people, a limitation is that the findings may not be generalizable to people of other ethnicities and younger people,” Neuroscience News wrote.Neurology: “Association Between Frequency of Social Contact and Brain Atrophy in Community-Dwelling Older People Without Dementia: The JPSC-AD Study.”© 2023 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
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