Social activity protects against dementia

Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "

26.10.2023

Are you afraid that you will develop dementia in old age? Social activity - it doesn't matter what kind, as long as you enjoy it - increases the chance that your cognitive abilities will remain intact.

Study

Andrew Sommerlad, affiliated with University College London, published a review study in Nature Aging in the spring of 2023 in which he summarized what we currently know about the link between social activities and dementia.

Studies suggest that people who are socially active in middle and older age are less likely to develop dementia later. Studies worldwide also show that the percentage of lonely people increases slightly every year in all age groups.

Results
The epidemiological studies that Sommerlad collected conclude that study participants who engage in relatively little social activity and few social contacts are more likely to develop dementia. Being socially active therefore reduces the risk of dementia - by 30-50 percent.

A steady relationship also protects against dementia. Unmarried study participants and - to a slightly lesser extent - study participants who felt lonely have an increased risk of dementia.

Click on the figures below for a larger version.

Sommerlad suspects that social activities force the brain to stay active, which reduces the risk of dementia. Social contact also reduces the risk of depression and inhibits inflammation. This also reduces the risk of dementia.

Because dementia is a growing problem due to the aging population, interest is growing in initiatives that keep people socially active. In his overview article, Sommerlad lists a number of trials in which researchers measured the effects of these initiatives. [Table] This shows that these initiatives improve cognitive ability. Whether they also reduce the risk of dementia has not been investigated.

This should change, Sommerlad advises. Preferably before the government starts investing large amounts.

Source:
Nat Aging. 2023 May;3(5):532-45.

More:
Frequent contact with friends and family protects against dementia 06.08.2019
Loneliness leads to first stages of dementia 09.02.2017

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