Engaging in social activities – a way to combat memory decline

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” -John Donne, For Whom the Bell Tolls

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” -Mother Teresa

A person at the age of 60 who stays connected with friends almost daily is seen to have a 12% lower risk of developing dementia. Conversely, an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline is observed in people with less frequent social contact. [1]

According to Bryan James, an epidemiologist at the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University in Chicago, people with high levels of social engagement have 43% less disability than those with low levels of social activity. He states “Social activity is related to motor function, just like physical exercise is related. We can’t determine which is most important—they each contribute a piece of the puzzle.” [2]

But many seniors struggle to stay socially connected, and there are multiple underlying causes. A 2019 Cambridge University paper observes that “a variety of underpinning structural conditions, such as stable neighborhoods serviced with accessible public transport, liveable pensions and availability of community organizations, and inclusivity, are all fundamentally conducive to social connectedness.” [3] Many seniors, especially those in rural and sprawling suburban communities, lack these structural conditions.

At the global level, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends three actions to reduce social isolation and loneliness:

create a coalition to increase political commitment;
improve studies and find evidence for what works; and
scale up effective interventions. [4]

So what can we do individually if we feel socially isolated or lonely? The WHO recommends three actions:

Additionally, there are many new and expanding resources available online that allow seniors to connect people with others socially. The COVID-19 pandemic drove many innovations, and there are more opportunities than ever to make new friends and stay genuinely involved and connected, even when you’re stuck at home.

We’d like to help you jumpstart with getting in touch with friends, doing the things you enjoy, and reaching out to people and communities by linking with the following:

Dementia Action Alliance (https://daanow.org/) – is a charitable organization that provides services and peer support including three weekly online discussion groups, two monthly podcasts, an online Resources Center, a national Speakers Bureau and other services. All DAA efforts and activities are shaped and informed by individuals living with dementia.
Virtual Senior Center (https://www.vscm.selfhelp.net/) – is a platform helping older and homebound adults connect and engage with each other through virtual and hybrid classes and which supports organizations in building their own online community.
Vital Aging Network (https://vital-aging-network.org/) – is a Minnesota-based organization helping seniors become social change agents in their communities through community organizing, giving them the skills to assess what their neighborhood needs, gather resources, and start new programs.

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