Study Finds Social Relationships Better Brain Aging
Who are the SuperAgers? They are men and
women over 80 years of age, whose memories are as good – if not better –
than people 20-30 years their juniors. In a recent study conducted by
researchers from Northwestern University, a group of seniors was
examined throughout 9 years. Every couple of years, they had to fill out
surveys about their lives and undergo neuropsychological tests, brain
scans, and a neurological examination, among other evaluations.
When compared to their “normal” peers,
SuperAgers were found to have some distinctive brain features: thicker
cortices, larger anterior cingulate (a part of the brain important to
attention and working memory), and resistance to age-related atrophy
(degeneration of cells). But it was obvious to the researchers there are
other factors involved as well.
In order to find attributes SuperAgers have in common and characterize
them, 31 SuperAgers and 19 “normal” seniors were asked to fill out a
questionnaire regarding their psychological well-being. It became clear
that SuperAgers had another distinct common feature other than their
brain structure: they all cultivated warm, satisfying and trusting
relationships.
How Do They Maintain Relationships?
When interviewed, the senior citizens who
took part in the research spoke of maintaining friendships that go as
far back as high school or joining clubs and groups that help them stay
active and socialize. For example, a woman of 103 years living in
Illinois reported that she makes frequent calls and visits to her
long-time friends, even those who now suffer from Alzheimer’s or those
that are no longer able to leave their house. She is also a prominent
figure in her retirement community – she’s on the team that welcomes new
residents, and she makes an effort to make everyone feel at home and
included.
Another SuperAger in the study had helped in founding a men’s group, Men
Enjoying Leisure, which has grown and expanded to have several branches
around Chicago’s suburbs. Every month, the group meets for two hours to
discuss personal issues, such as health, family matters and more. This
platform is very important, especially for men who might be less
inclined to talk about their feelings and bottle things up. Knowing you
are not alone in the problems you face is a big benefit one gets from
social relationships.
The Link Between Social Relationships and Cognition
One scientific explanation as to why
positive relationships make humans function better, is that they help
calm our stress response system. Chronically high levels of the stress
hormone cortisol can have a devastating effect on physical and emotional
health – weight gain, slow healing injuries and more.
A different study of elderly residents in Hong Kong showed that those
who cultivate supportive relationships had a significant drop in
cortisol levels during the day. The human brain is more adaptive than
some might think. The older we get, what’s lost in quick-recall and
short term memory is balanced by the ability to reflect and hold
multiple perspectives, according to experts. This means that
neurological changes in an aging brain may contribute to emotional
regulation and an increased ability to relate compassionately to others.
Humans are a social animal. Friendships are important at any age for our
mental well-being, but it seems we also physically need one another in
order to age better.