Come on, get out there with the rest of them to preserve your memory.
May 30th 2008 21:53
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From: Bloomberg.com
People 50 years and older who were single, didn't have weekly contact with family and neighbors or volunteer had twice the memory loss as those who engaged in those activities, according to a study released today by the American Journal of Public Health.
Researchers suspect social contact could influence hormones that benefit or stimulate the brain in a way that creates a buffer against mental decline. People with active social schedules also may be more likely to engage in other activities, such as exercise, that improve their overall health, said Karen Ertel, the study's lead author and a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University's department of society, human development and health.
``This adds to a body of literature that really is showing pretty strong support that social activity and engagement may have a protective effect on cognitive decline,'' said Ertel, who added that further research is needed to make any definitive conclusions.
The study found no evidence that memory loss caused people to withdraw from social activities. Memory loss is a risk factor for dementia, a condition affecting 10 percent of Americans 65 and older.
Researchers measured memory in 16,000 patients by asking them to repeat a series of 10 nouns immediately and after a delay. They took measurements and tracked the results every two years from 1998 to 2004. The study was paid for by the U.S. National Institute of Aging.
To contact the reporter on this story: Shannon Pettypiece in New York at spettypiece@bloomberg.net
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