Sure, some turn away disappointed from their fellow human beings, and there are loners and hermits. But these few examples of self-chosen isolation are contrasted by an overwhelming number of findings that clearly show that people are social beings and depend on closeness and contact. How pronounced this need is has become abundantly clear during the pandemic. A deficiency can have psychological, social and health consequences.
It is also important for mental freshness to have a response, i.e. a benevolent conversation partner and thus someone who is there, listens and takes an interest. Neurologists and geriatric researchers from Harvard and New York University show in the specialist magazine Jama Network Openhow important it is for cognitive performance to be able to rely on social support. Having close confidants promotes brain health.
Scientists working with Joel Salinas have evaluated the findings of almost 2200 participants, who were on average 63 years old. The cognitive abilities were recorded with neuropsychological tests and the brain volume was determined. As the mental abilities decline, the size of the brain can also decrease. The analysis showed that those people who had access to a social environment, who could rely on trusted friends and who had someone to talk to and listen to, performed significantly better cognitively. On the other hand, those who rarely found a conversation partner came up with poorer values.
The lonely brain ages faster
The researchers calculated how many years of mental performance it can cost not to have enough social contacts. For their analysis, the Salinas team used the cognitive capacity in different age groups known from previous studies. If you had little exchange and contact, your brain ages faster. It is therefore “older” by an average of 4.25 years and less agile than it would correspond to the calendar age. A lot of social closeness and lively exchange, on the other hand, lead to a slight “rejuvenation” of the brain.
“These four years can be extremely valuable,” says Salinas. “Often it is only in old age that we think about how we can maintain our spiritual strength, and we have already lost decades in which we could have acquired habits that keep our brain healthy.” Therefore, even younger people should ask themselves who can listen lovingly and share worries and from whom emotional support can be expected. “Taking care of it sets in motion a process that offers good opportunities for mental health and a high quality of life,” says Salinas.
The patient’s social network should also be given more attention in the anamnesis and in other medical discussions. Asking whether someone is there to listen and get involved can provide important clues. “Loneliness is a major characteristic of depression and has other adverse health effects,” says Salinas. “Questions about social relationships therefore not only reveal something about the patient’s living conditions, but also about their future well-being.”