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Social seniors show dramatic cognitive advantages in new study

CHICAGO — Going out to restaurants, playing bingo, visiting friends, or attending religious services could give you extra years of healthy brain function, according to new research from Rush University Medical Center. Their study found that older adults who stayed socially active typically developed dementia five years later than those who were less social. It’s a difference that could both extend life and save hundreds of thousands in healthcare costs.

“This study shows that social activity is related to less cognitive decline in older adults,” said Bryan James, PhD, associate professor of internal medicine at Rush, in a statement. “The least socially active older adults developed dementia an average of five years before the most socially active.”

The research team followed 1,923 older adults who were initially dementia-free, checking in with them yearly to track their social activities and cognitive health. They looked at six everyday social activities: dining out, attending sporting events or playing bingo, taking trips, doing volunteer work, visiting relatives or friends, participating in groups, and attending religious services.

Over nearly seven years of follow-up, 545 participants developed dementia, while 695 developed mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which often precedes dementia. After accounting for factors like age, education, gender, and marital status, the researchers found that each increase in social activity was linked to a 38% lower chance of developing dementia.

The numbers tell a striking story: The most socially active people typically developed dementia around age 92, while the least social showed signs around age 87. A similar pattern emerged with mild cognitive impairment: the most social participants developed MCI around age 79, compared to age 74 for the least social.

These findings become even more significant when considering the broader impact. Previous studies have shown that delaying dementia onset by five years could save about $500,000 in healthcare costs per person and add roughly three years to life expectancy for those who would otherwise develop dementia.

Being social seems to help the brain in several ways. When we engage socially, we exercise the parts of our brain involved in memory and thinking. “Social activity challenges older adults to participate in complex interpersonal exchanges, which could promote or maintain efficient neural networks in a case of ‘use it or lose it,’” explains James.

The benefits of social activity appear to work independently of other social factors, like how many friends someone has or how supported they feel. This suggests that simply getting out and doing things with others could be more important than the size of your social circle.

The research takes on new urgency following the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many older adults isolated. The findings suggest that communities might benefit from creating more opportunities for older adults to engage socially, whether through organized activities, volunteer programs, or regular social gatherings.

To measure cognitive function, participants completed 21 different tests assessing various types of memory, perceptual speed, and visuospatial ability. Each person started the study showing no signs of cognitive impairment, allowing researchers to track how social activity levels influenced cognitive decline over time.

What’s exciting to consider about the study is that it focused on common, everyday activities rather than specialized programs. The social activities measured are things most people can easily incorporate into their lives.

While scientists continue searching for pharmaceutical solutions to dementia, some of the most powerful medicine might be found just down the road at your local bingo hall.