New Evidence that Active Social Life Delays Memory
Loss for Elderly
Seniors with highest social activity had the slowest
rate of memory decline
June 4, 2008 The evidence from respected
researchers continues to mount showing that senior citizens can preserve
their memory and cognitive abilities longer if they keep their minds and
bodies active. The latest is a new study by Harvard School of Public
Health (HSPH) researchers providing evidence that elderly people in the
U.S. who have an active social life have a slower rate of memory
decline.
"We hope this study adds to and advances our
growing understanding of the important role that social forces play in
shaping health," said Karen Ertel, postdoctoral fellow in the Department
of Society, Human Development and Health at HSPH.
Previous studies have suggested that an active
social life may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline among
the elderly.
Memory loss, one of the features of aging, is a
strong risk factor for dementia, a syndrome estimated to affect up to
10% of the U.S. population 65 years and older. Memory loss can have
devastating effects on the quality of life among older people.
The researchers wanted to test whether memory loss
might also be associated with social connectedness.
Ertel and her HSPH colleagues, senior author
Lisa Berkman, chair of the Department of Society, Human Development
and Health, and
Maria Glymour, assistant professor, Department of Society, Human
Development and Health, used data gathered from 1998 to 2004 from the
Health and Retirement Study, a large, nationally representative
population of U.S. adults 50 years and older. (Previous studies were
conducted outside of the U.S. or using smaller, non-representative
population samples.)
Memory was assessed in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 by
reading a list of ten common nouns to survey respondents, then asking
them to recall as many words as possible immediately and after a
five-minute delay. Social integration was assessed by marital status,
volunteer activities, and contact with parents, children and neighbors.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby boomers
Most social engaged show slowest memory decline
The results showed that individuals with the
highest social integration had the slowest rate of memory decline from
1998 to 2004. In fact, memory decline among the most integrated was less
than half the rate among the least integrated.
These findings were independent of sociodemographic
factors (such as age, gender, and race) and health status in 1998. The
researchers found that the protective effect of social integration was
largest among individuals with fewer than 12 years of education.
The researchers found no evidence that the results
could be due to reverse causation, that is, poor memory or memory
decline causing social withdrawal.
"Social participation and integration have profound
effects on health and well being of people during their lifetimes," said
Berkman.
"We know from previous studies that people with
many social ties have lower mortality rates. 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."
Memory loss and dementia pose a major public health
burden among the elderly U.S. population. The results suggest that
increasing social integration may help slow memory decline among older
Americans and could help alleviate the public health burden,
particularly because the aging population in the U.S. is expected to
increase substantially.
"We need to understand more about how social
integration reduces the risk of memory decline in order to target
interventions that can help slow the decline," said Ertel. "Future
research should focus on identifying the specific aspects of social
integration most important for preserving memory."
The study appears in the July 2008 issue of the
American Journal of Public Health. Support for the study was provided by
the National Institute of Aging.
Editors Notes:
Source: "Effects of Social Integration on
Preserving Memory Function in a Nationally Representative U.S. Elderly
Population," Karen A. Ertel, M. Maria Glymour, Lisa F. Berkman, American
Journal of Public Health, July 2008, Vol. 98, No. 7.
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www.hsph.harvard.edu
June 4, 2008 The evidence from respected
researchers continues to mount showing that senior citizens can preserve
their memory and cognitive abilities longer if they keep their minds and
bodies active. The latest is a new study by Harvard School of Public
Health (HSPH) researchers providing evidence that elderly people in the
U.S. who have an active social life have a slower rate of memory
decline.