Study: Frequent social interactions help maintain memory function

A new study found that those who participate more frequently in social activities with others have a likely chance at retaining sharper memory functionality later in life. Social engagement has been

News 12 Staff

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Dec 19, 2016, 10:46 PM

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Updated 2,928 days ago

A new study found that those who participate more frequently in social activities with others have a likely chance at retaining sharper memory functionality later in life.

Social engagement has been linked to better cognitive function at age 50 by researchers in the United Kingdom.

A team at the University of Southampton examined data from the British National Child Development study, which has followed several thousand people born in 1958 since birth.

Researchers found that most participants' cognitive abilities either remained the same or declined between the ages of 11 and 50.

However, for about a quarter of them, brain performance actually improved.

Researchers say those who scored highest on cognitive tests at age 50 had higher levels of social engagement over time.

Analysts say all forms of civic involvement like volunteering, neighborhood watch, even working with a political party were linked to better brain performance in middle age.

The team noted that physical activity, higher education levels and being female were also linked to better brain function.

The association between improved cognition at age 50 and social engagement remained even after adjusting for factors like health, socio-economic status and gender.

The study was published in the open access journal, BMC psychology.