NYU Study Highlights the Importance of Social Support to Cognitive Resiliency
A research at NYU Grossman School of Medicine showed in that social interaction in adulthood can avert chances of cognitive decline as people begin to age. The study confirmed the association between having someone who will listen to what they have to say and greater cognitive resilience.
Supportive social interactions are significant during adulthood in preventing in preventing mental health conditions like Alzheimer’s. According to neurologists, cognitive resiliency can be augmented by taking part in mentally stimulating activities, positive social interactions, and physical exercise.
In their study, the NYU researchers noticed that the brain’s ability to function gets better when someone needing to open up has someone willing to listen.
According to the lead researcher Joel Salinas, MD, Alzheimer’s disease as it still doesn’t have a cure. The disorder is very prevalent in the country today as around 5 million individuals have Alzheimer’s; affecting those who are aged 65 and above. This disease adversely affects their language, their memory, their decision-making prowess, and ability to live independently.
Ensuring Social Support Even before in Younger Years
Salinas added that although the disorder commonly affects the older people, the younger generation can take advantage of their social support as early as they can. Compared to those who have high listener availability, those who are low and aged around 40s and 50s have a cognitive age that is four years older.
The younger generation should now wait until they reach old age before pondering ways of taking care of their brain health. Dr. Salinas added that the right time to take stock of our social support is now so that we can improve our chances of acquiring long term brain health and the best quality of life.
He also suggested that physicians should ask question about social support when completing the medical history of a patient. Especially since loneliness is one of the most symptoms depressions and other health conditions brought up as health concerns by a patient.
