研究表演，社会参与促进老年人的大脑健康

报告更高层次的社会参与的老年人在与之相关的大脑区域中显示出更多灰度。dementia risk，根据研究发表的研究Journal of Gerontology.

研究人员看了一个叫做的更大倡议的293名参与者Health, Aging and Body Composition study从1997年开始收集数据，了解可能导致更健康的老年人功能下降的因素。

平均约83岁的参与者brain scans and also report on habits such as nutrition, social interactions, and physical activity. In addition, participants report major health events such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and cancer.

专注于社会参与习惯，研究人员发现那些报告的人经常，经常社交也具有更好的微观结构完整性的灰色大脑。

Understanding Gray Matter

灰质在以前的研究中突出显示，特别是相关的研究阿尔茨海默氏病。In a study published inScientific Reports ,研究人员指出，阿尔茨海默氏症的特征是淀粉样蛋白斑块和神经纤维缠结，呈灰质积聚，并导致脑细胞破坏。

这些类型的发现导致努力寻找更好的保护灰质，研究表明一些策略可能是：

• Meditation
• 心血管锻炼
• 学习新技能
• Getting quality sleep

Adding social engagement to this list makes sense, says lead author of the current study,Cynthia Felix, M.D., M.P.H是匹兹堡大学的老年人。

"There's no cure for dementia, which is why we need to focus on prevention as much as possible, and slowing the progression if it does occur," she says, adding that other healthy habits such as regular activity could make prevention efforts even more powerful.

例如，Felix建议，群体运动对于旧的参与者来说，这是一个有趣的人，并且有社会元素将包含多种类型的预防。

Your Brain on Social Engagement

就机制和为什么社会化就会起作用而言，Felix说，随后的研究是饲料。例如，她说，我们尚不知道更大的社会参与本身是否保持大脑地区健康，或者如果它是其他方式 - 那些有更健康的大脑的人往往更加社会。

It's possible it could even be both, that a healthy brain makes you socialize more and that, in turn, gives your brain a boost.

What is known from previous research is that there are specific neuropeptides—oxytocin and arginine vasopressin—that help regulate social behavior, and when those are lacking, people tend to have higher risk for issues like social anxiety disorder.

Oxytocin, in particular, is so strongly associated with social bonding that it's sometimes called "the love hormone." Recently, a study on mice in生物化学和生物物理研究通信suggested that oxytocin should be considered for treatments to reverse the damage caused by amyloid plaques, which could help slow or prevent Alzheimer's in the future.

Finding Connection

研究的一个值得注意的方面，Felix补充说：在Covid-19之前的完成：现在，许多老年人发现自己从朋友和家人那里被孤立，作为防止病毒暴露的一种方式，她担心缺乏社会参与可能导致在不久的将来痴呆症风险更高的痴呆风险涟漪效应。

However, social engagement doesn't always need to be done in person, says psychotherapistDana Dorfman, PhD, MSW. Although being able to hug each other does cause a surge in oxytocin—leading to those brain benefits—there is also value in simply making sure older people feel heard and loved, she says.

"Even before COVID, there was ample evidence that loneliness and isolation had major, negative health effects, especially for older people," she notes. "Now, more than ever, it's important to reach out and counteract those feelings."

努力可以包括：

• 帮助老年人使用在线社交媒体工具
• 交换电话和信件
• Enlisting family and friends for regular calls
• 在线玩最喜欢的游戏
• 与家人进行定期虚拟访问
• Invite older adults to a book club or discussion group