Lesson 6 - Be a Social Animal

Social Interactions can slow mental decline in older adults

In the previous lesson, we listed social isolation as one of the factors that diminishes mental alertness. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine from research done at the Harvard School of Public Health actually showed an engaged, socially active lifestyle helps slow mental decline in older adults. According to the investigators, risks of mental decline "were approximately twice as great in the respondents who reported few or no social ties, than those with five or more social ties.

They added that no one type of social connection - be it spouse, family, or friend - was more protective than another when it came to preventing mental decline.

 

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