2023-06-05 10:19:48
People who are socially engaged in middle and end of life are 30 to 50% less likely to develop dementia, according to a new scientific study published in the journal Nature Aging (Source 1).
The research team publishing this finding conducted a meta-analysis of several studies conducted in several countries around the world, on a large number of participants. She believes that if socializing is so good at reducing the risk of dementia, it is probably because living together increases the “cognitive reserve”, reduces stress and improves brain and vascular health.
On the urgency of finding ways to reduce the scale of dementia
Believing that it is increasingly urgent to find effective ways to reduce the extent and impact of dementia, Dr Andrew Sommerlad, lead author of the study, recalls that the number of people affected by this pathology should triple by 2050.
“There is growing evidence that social activity is good for your health and can help maintain your brain health as you age. Anyone might follow this advice on a personal level, but there is also political and societal changes that might reduce dementia rates, such as social prescribing, socially connected housing and more encouragement for volunteering”, he pointed out in a press release (Source 2).
If the researchers do not specify what they mean by “be socially engaged in middle and end of life”, both in terms of activities and age, they propose political and social measures to be put in place to reduce the risk of dementia through more socialization. In particular, they suggest offering seniors housing that allows for more sociability, medically prescribe socializationas doctors already prescribe physical activity, or value volunteering moreso that retirement and old age no longer rhyme with the onset of social isolation.
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