Reducing Social Isolation Offers Brain Protection in Later Life, Study Finds
New research published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences has discovered a direct causal effect between social isolation and a faster decline in later-life cognitive function.
The study found a consistent pattern of higher social isolation causing faster cognitive decline — whether or not people identify as lonely. Social isolation is objectively measured as, for example, sociability, membership in community organizations, and religious participation, whereas loneliness is a subjective report of how often people feel lonely. While social isolation and loneliness are often thought of as associated, they appear to have independent effects on cognitive function.
Researchers from the University of St Andrews, the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, and Emory University analyzed data from the U.S. Health and Retirement study, looking at 137,653 cognitive function tests taken between 2004 and 2018 by over 30,000 individuals.
They found that reducing social isolation has a protective effect on cognitive function for all subpopulations regardless of gender, race, ethnicity and educational level, with only minor differences among social categories.
“Around the holidays, many of us think a lot about how important it is to be surrounded by family and friends,” said lead author Jo Hale, PhD, of the University of St. Andrews. “From Pagan winter holidays to classic Christmas tales, we’re reminded that social engagement is good for our mental health. This research shows that it’s also important for our cognitive health. As Alzheimer’s is a leading cause of death for older adults in the U.K./U.S., constructing the scaffolding to allow for regular social interaction, especially for those who mayn’t have family or friends nearby, should be a public health priority.”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, about a quarter of individuals 65 and older identified as being socially isolated. Loneliness has been recognized as a major public health issue in high income countries including the U.S., U.K., Sweden, Australia, Germany and Japan.
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The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences is a peer-reviewed publication of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), which was founded in 1945 and is the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization focused on aging. It serves more than 6,000 members in over 50 countries. GSA’s vision, meaningful lives as we age, is supported by its mission to foster excellence, innovation, and collaboration to advance aging research, education, practice, and policy. GSA is home to the National Academy on an Aging Society (a nonpartisan public policy institute) and the National Center to Reframe Aging.