An Active Social Life May Delay Memory Loss Among the Elderly

Memory loss can have devastating effects on an individual’s quality of life. But according to the results of a new Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) study, having an active social life may slow memory loss among the elderly. Researchers who conducted the study set out to test whether memory loss might be associated with social connectedness and found evidence that being socially active may increase feelings of self-worth and emotional validation that could end up helping maintain memory.

HPSH researchers collected and examined data on almost 17,000 American adults 50 and older from the Health and Retirement Study, which was conducted from 1998to 2004. The researchers assessed memory by reading a list of ten common nouns to the study participants and asking them to remember as many words as possible after five minutes had passed. To determine social integration among the study participants, researchers examined marital status, contact with parents, children, and neighbors, and volunteer activities.

The results of the study indicated that older individuals with the highest level of social integration also had the slowest rate of memory loss. No correlation between age, gender, health status, and race was found in the study, and researchers also found no evidence of reverse causation (memory loss as the cause of poor social integration).

The population of older Americans continues to increase as baby boomers age, and soon memory loss and dementia are likely to pose a major US public health burden. But the information gleaned from this study could help to alleviate that burden, as it adds to our understanding of the important role that social integration plays in shaping health.

Lisa Berkman, one of the lead researchers in the HSPH study, says that, "social
participation and integration have profound effects on health and well being of people during their lifetimes. We now have mounting evidence that strong social networks can help to prevent declines in memory. As our society ages and has more and more older people, it will be important to promote their engagement in social and community life to maintain their well being."

The authors of the study now hope to be able to learn how social integration reduces the risk of memory decline and to identify the specific aspects of social integration that are most vital to the preservation of memory in the elderly.