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As the days go by and the temperatures drop, work falls by the wayside Christmas Drinks for a night out may seem like an attractive option.
but avoid sociability Fighting with your co-workers or friends may do you more harm than good in the long run, putting you at risk for developing Alzheimer’saccording to Scientist,
New research from a team at the University of St Andrews in Scotland shows a “direct link” between social isolation and cognitive decline – whether people believe in them or not alone,
They said their findings showed that social interactions, such as Christmas drinks and family gatherings, can boost your cognitive health as well as mental health,
The study, published in Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social SciencesLooked at data from 137,000 cognitive function tests taken between 2004 and 2018 by more than 30,000 individuals in the US.
They found that reducing social isolation helped protect against cognitive decline across all social groups and genders. Additionally, their findings showed that while social isolation and loneliness are often thought to be linked, social isolation can boost your cognitive function, even if you don’t believe you’re alone.
The team said cognitive decline in older age is often caused by Alzheimer’s or related dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are currently an estimated 982,000 people living with dementia in the UK – a number that is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.
The paper’s lead author, Dr. Joe Hale of the University of St. Andrews, said: “Around the holidays, many of us think a lot about how important it is to be surrounded by family and friends.
“From pagan winter holidays to classic Christmas stories, we are reminded that social connection is good for our mental health. This research shows it’s also important for our cognitive health.”
Finding ways to provide regular social interaction for older adults should be a “public health priority,” she said, noting that Alzheimer’s is a leading cause of death for older adults in the UK and US.
It comes after research from Newcastle University suggested that socializing could help reduce the risk of weakness later in life.
The results showed that people with high social engagement at the start had a 31 percent lower risk of frailty, while those who increased their social activity over an eight-year period saw a 23 percent lower risk.