Stay Connected to Improve Your Neural Connections

We are fundamentally wired to seek out social interaction, and most of us socialize with others on a regular basis in many different ways. Pre-pandemic, social encounters might have included impromptu conversations at the grocery store with a neighbor or friend, brief chats with coworkers between meetings, or catching up with a loved one at the end of the day. Perhaps a family dinner at home or on the town, doing volunteer work, being involved in a community group, or attending meetings with colleagues have been more common for you. While our mode of socializing has changed out of necessity given the current state of the world, seeking out interactions is part of what makes us human.

From a brain health perspective, the bottom line is this: Scientists have accumulated evidence fairly recently that positive social interactions are really good for the brain. The frequency of our social activity, the size of our social network, and our sense of social support may all impact cognitive skills and brain health. Conversely, social isolation, loneliness, and negative social interactions can be detrimental to the brain. And just to be clear: the current emphasis on social distancing does not mean social isolation. Being physically distant from others right now makes good sense, but we can still find many ways to interact safely with our friends, colleagues, and family members. Indeed, when we consider the many tech-oriented communication options we currently have at our disposal, it’s arguably the easiest (and most important) time in human history to connect with others.

Beyond the clear benefits for our quality of life and physical health, increased social activity is related to better executive functioning, quicker thinking speed, and improvements in some types of memory. These findings are seen across the life span, although the majority of published research has been conducted with older adults. The brain is particularly enriched when we engage in multiple social activities rather than just one; a weekly chat with a friend is good, but adding in time with a community group (right now, perhaps via conference call or videoconferencing) is better. Critically, there is also evidence that being socially active reduces the risk of developing dementia.

Getting a mood boost with social activity might be one of the main reasons why the brain benefits when we get together with others. We have less of the potentially noxious hormone cortisol circulating in our bodies when our mood is brighter, and socializing on a regular basis helps keep our immune system firing on all cylinders. In addition, emotional support from others quiets the parts of the brain that light up when we feel threatened and ramps up brain regions that respond when we feel safe.

What about the overall size of our social network? One study sought to understand whether a larger social clan was linked to fewer cognitive problems in people studied for about five years. The scientists found that people with many social connections were almost 40 percent less likely to experience cognitive decline than someone with one primary social tie. Other research has shown that the risk of dementia is quite high in those with few or no consistent social contacts, and that each additional person added to your social network—as long as these relationships are satisfying and supportive—is related to decreased risk of cognitive impairment as you age.

Beyond the amount of time we spend socializing, or the size of our network, the sense of support we feel from people we interact with is important too. When we’re supported by others, we take solace in knowing there’s someone we can count on. And the science clearly indicates that the more supported we feel, the better our brains seem to function. People who feel more supported by others tend to perform better on multiple cognitive tests; those feeling like they are largely on their own show evidence of poorer brain health.

All told, despite the need for creative strategies right now to stay connected, social activity is a powerful lifestyle factor that may have a significant impact on physical, emotional, and brain health. Given the science supporting this assertion, being mindful of building in time to interact with friends, family, and colleagues is a powerful brain-boosting strategy in daily life.

(Partially excerpted from The Brain Health Book: Using the Power of Neuroscience to Improve Your Life by John Randolph, Ph.D., published by W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.)