As patients age they become increasingly interested in how keep their brains healthy. An article titled, “The Healthy Aging Brain—Sustaining Social Attachments is Key for Enhancing Longevity,” published in Neuropsychiatry Reviews, June 2008, volume 9, number 6, examines this issue. Six-hundred and fifty Catholic sisters aged 75 and older were studied over a period of seven years. The results were interesting. Healthy brain functioning and longevity were strongly correlated with “early-life linguistic ability, obtaining a college degree, and positive social connectedness.” Given this data, patients who are interested in maintaining and promoting healthy brain function as they age should strive for daily positive social connectedness.
The Bottom Line: Maintaining a healthy brain during the aging process is strongly correlated with daily positive social connectedness.
Reference: http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/08june/HealthyAging.html
Dr. Tanya Korkosz
Dr. Jeffrey Speller
Psychopharmacology Associates New England