Early signs of dementia can be reversed through a good social life, the study found
- People who spend time face-to-face with friends and family, attending classes, volunteering, or attending religious services may find that brain function returns to normal.
- This can happen even if they have started to deteriorate years before – which is good news for those whose memory and processing skills have diminished during the blockade.
- Lead researcher Ming Wen of the University of Utah, USA, said she was happily surprised by the findings
A better social life can reverse memory problems in people with early signs of dementiaresearch shows.
People who spend time face-to-face with friends and family, attend classes or groups, volunteer, or attend religious services may find that their brain function returns to normal.
This can happen even if they have started to deteriorate years before – which is good news for those whose memory and processing skills have declined during closing.
Researchers analyzed the brain function, lifestyle and social life of nearly 2,200 Americans aged 62 to 90, including 972 people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) – often a precursor to dementia.
Better social life can reverse memory problems in people with early signs of dementia, research shows. People who spend time face-to-face with friends and family, attend classes or groups, volunteer, or attend religious services may find that their brain function returns to normal. (File photo)
Five years later, they found that 22% of MCI participants had improved to such an extent that their brain function was now considered normal.
Another 12% have dementia and 66% have remained the same. Those with higher levels of social activity are likely to improve.
Lead researcher Ming Wen of the University of Utah, USA, said she was happily surprised by the findings.
“Most people would think this is a one-way street, once you have a cognitive impairment, there’s no way you can go back,” she said after presenting a study at the Alzheimer’s Research Conference in Brighton, UK this week.
“But we found that even if five years ago you were cognitively impaired, if you were actively involved in social interactions – activities such as volunteering, meeting friends, socializing, attending religious services – then probably some of these people will improve and become. normal again, which is really exciting.
Increasing social activity by just one event a year can improve a person’s chances of reversing brain decline by up to 41%, the findings show.
Researchers analyzed the brain function, lifestyle and social life of nearly 2,200 Americans aged 62 to 90, including 972 people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) – often a precursor to dementia. (File photo)
“Everything is better than nothing,” added Professor Wen. But the more regular the person’s activity, the stronger the effect.
The existence of close social relationships is also associated with a protective effect against the development of complete dementia, although it does not seem to be associated with improving the chances of someone turning to MCI.
The study took into account the levels of exercise, whether participants smoked or drank, whether they worked, their age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic background.
Due to the way the study was conducted, it is not clear whether those whose brain health has improved have increased or maintained their levels of social activity over the five-year period.
The study has not yet been published or reviewed by partners.
Commenting on the study, Dr Susan Kolhas, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We know that keeping in touch is a pillar of good brain health and that middle age is increasingly identified as a key moment in people’s lives when we can act … Further research is needed to deepen [the study’s] findings.
Making a few simple transitions to a better diet can also help prevent dementia, research shows.
Eating a “healthy diet in the UK with a few extras” – including more nuts, beans and legumes and the use of olive oil for cooking – can improve memory and brain function within six months, according to a study at the University of East Anglia. was also presented at the Alzheimer’s Research Conference in the United Kingdom.