In a new report released by the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH),staying socially engaged with a wide circle of friends and family may help maintain our thinking skills and slow cognitive decline as we age.

The Brain and Social Connectedness report addresses the social benefits of having pets, the role that age-friendly communities play in fostering social ties, and how close relationships promote both physical and psychological wellbeing.  The report also covers how social media like Facebook and Skype helps older adults maintain their social connections.

Professor Kaarin Anstey, the only Australian representative on the Council, participated in the social engagement and brain health discussions held at Age UK in London last year.  She said that engaging in social activities has been linked with reduced risk of dementia in several long-term studies.

The Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) is an independent collaborative of scientists, health professionals, scholars, and policy experts from around the world working in areas of brain health related to human cognition. Council focuses on brain health relating to people’s ability to think and reason as they age, including aspects of memory, perception, and judgment. This is sometimes also called cognitive health, cognitive function or mental fitness.

Related GCBH Reports:

• The Brain and Social Connectedness
• The Brain-Sleep Connection
• The Brain-Body Connection