How Social Connections Improve Your Brain Health

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Why it's important to keep our friendships alive, especially during the pandemic, writes brtherapist

Dr. Cynthia Felix and her colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology used information about social engagement from 293 community-dwelling participants from the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. Study participants, average age 83 years old, also received a sensitive brain scan called Diffusion Tensor Imaging MRI that measures the cellular integrity of brain cells used for social engagement.

The participants provided detailed information about their social engagement, and the researchers scored them awarding high scores to people who did things like play board games; go to movies; travel long distance; attend classes, lectures or adultevents; participate in church or other community activities; get together with children, friends, relatives or neighbors at least once a week; volunteer or work; be married and live with others.

The researchers found participants who reported greater levels of social engagement had more robust gray matter in regions of the brain relevant in dementia. Maintaining brain health is of critical importance. Once brain cells die, dementia typically follows. Social engagement with at least one other relative or friend activates specific brain regions needed to recognize familiar faces and emotions, make decisions and feel rewarded.

These findings have ramifications for older adults and all ages practicing Covid-19 isolation."Our data were collected before the Covid-19 pandemic,” said lead author Felix, “but I believe our findings are particularly important right now, since a one-size-fits-all social isolation of all older adults may place them at risk for conditions such as dementia.”

Similar to how large public health studies assess the best programs to encourage physical activity to prevent chronic disease in older people, Felix believes her team's findings, coupled with previous research, provides justification for randomized control trials to assess the impact of specific types and amounts of social activities on brain health.

 

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brtherapist Too bad some are unable to keep their marriages alive during the pandemic.

brtherapist Write & Sing a multi-language song about it & then sell it to get off food stamps

brtherapist No man is an island

brtherapist Not surprising, since most of the human brain is now structured for the social engagement system.Used to be for survival threat, but getting more social.

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