Why going to your Christmas drinks tonight could help you later in life
As the days draw closer and temperatures drop, a night in instead of ditching for Christmas drinks from work may seem like a tempting option.
But avoiding socializing with colleagues or friends may do you more harm than good in the long run and increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, according to scientists.
New research from a team at the University of St Andrews in Scotland shows a “direct link” between social isolation and cognitive decline, regardless of whether people believe they are lonely.
They said their findings show that social interactions such as Christmas drinks and family gatherings can boost your cognitive health as well as your mental health.
The study was published on: Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social SciencesIt looked at data from 137,000 cognitive function tests taken by more than 30,000 people in the United States between 2004 and 2018.
They found that reducing social isolation helped protect against cognitive decline across all social groups and genders. Their findings also revealed that while social isolation and loneliness are often thought to be related, social isolation can improve your cognitive function even if you don’t believe you’re lonely.
Cognitive decline in later life is often caused by Alzheimer’s or related dementias, the team said. It is estimated that there are currently 982,000 people with dementia in the UK; This number is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The lead author of the article is Dr. from the University of St Andrews. Jo Hale said: “During the holidays many of us think about how important it is to be surrounded by family and friends.
“From pagan winter holidays to classic Christmas tales, we’re reminded that social interaction is good for our mental health. This research shows it’s important for our cognitive health, too.”
Finding ways to provide regular social interaction for older adults should be a “public health priority,” he said, adding that Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of death for older adults in the UK and US.
It comes after a Newcastle University study suggested socialization could help reduce the risk of frailty later in life.
The results showed that those with high social interaction at baseline had a 31 percent lower risk of frailty, while those who increased their social activity over the eight-year period had a 23 percent reduced risk.
