An Unexpected Cause of Accelerated Memory Decline Revealed 0 11

A lack of face-to-face communication and participation in public life directly accelerates the deterioration of memory and thinking in old age, a large study by researchers from the University of St Andrews has shown. The work is published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B.

Researchers analyzed more than 137,000 cognitive tests conducted by over 30,000 adults in the U.S. over 14 years. It was found that people with rare social contacts and a lack of participation in clubs, associations, and other forms of public life lost cognitive functions more quickly. Meanwhile, the subjective feeling of loneliness played a secondary role and did not fully explain the effect.

The protective effect of regular communication and involvement in public life was observed across all groups—regardless of gender, education level, and background. People who maintained a wide range of contacts and remained active in the community preserved their mental clarity for longer.

The authors note that against the backdrop of rising dementia cases and the lack of radical treatments, prevention becomes especially important. Supporting regular communication, creating opportunities for meetings, joint activities, and participation in community life should be viewed as an important measure for maintaining brain health in old age.