Did you know that people who love to chat are less likely to develop dementia?

Author: Sun Taixin, Chief Physician, Beijing Electric Power Hospital

Reviewer: Fan Lei, Chief Physician, Beijing Electric Power Hospital

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It is predicted that dementia will be the biggest killer of the 21st century, and by 2050, an estimated 153 million people worldwide will have dementia. Currently, there is no effective cure for dementia, but we can prevent it through some lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, being active, quitting smoking, staying socially connected, and watching our weight. Studies in recent years have shown that actively participating in conversations and communication can significantly reduce the risk of dementia. Let's take a look at the relationship between chatting and preventing dementia.

1. Chatting and cognitive stimulation

Research by Oscar Yabara, a psychologist at the Institute for Sociological Research at the University of Michigan, shows that just chatting with others for 100 minutes a day can improve memory and make people smarter. A nine-month trial conducted in 69 nursing homes in England also showed that chatting with dementia patients for 10 minutes a day can significantly improve their quality of life.

Chatting is an intellectually stimulating activity that requires us to use multiple cognitive functions such as language, thinking and memory. When we have a conversation, we not only need to understand what the other person means, but also think and express our own opinions. This cognitive challenge can stimulate brain activity and help maintain the elasticity and flexibility of the brain. Whether it is verbal chatting or text chatting, it will promote the improvement of brain cognition.

Research shows that regularly engaging in conversation and communication can promote connections between neurons and increase neuroplasticity in the brain. This makes it easier for our brains to adapt to change, learn new knowledge, and handle complex tasks. These are key factors in preventing dementia.

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2. Social interaction and brain protection

Social interaction is one of the important factors in maintaining physical and mental health. Communicating and interacting with others can bring many benefits, including emotional support, stress relief, and improved mental health. Recently, a study from Pennsylvania State University in the United States found that for the elderly, lack of social interaction in late life is an important risk factor for dementia.

Social interaction not only provides cognitive stimulation, but also helps build and maintain a social support system. Research shows that people with good social relationships are more likely to cope with stress in their lives and have greater psychological resilience. This psychological resilience not only helps reduce anxiety and depression, but also reduces the risk of dementia.

In addition, social interaction provides emotional support and enhances self-esteem and a sense of belonging. These positive emotions and mental states are essential for brain health, promoting activation of brain areas associated with memory and learning and improving cognitive function.

However, with the subsequent progress of society and the accelerated pace of life, today's elderly are more likely to fall into loneliness. High-rise buildings block the communication between neighbors, busy work ties up the pace of children, and electronic games and boring videos occupy their leisure time. All these have made the elderly have fewer and fewer opportunities to chat. The elderly often have no channels to vent negative emotions or share what they see and learn in life. They are prone to anxiety and depression, and their cognition is also easily affected.

So how can you reduce your risk of dementia? The most effective measure is to participate in social interactions. Here are some suggestions.

(1) Participate in community activities or interest groups to make new friends and expand your social circle.

(2) Communicate frequently with family, friends or neighbors to share life experiences and feelings. Children should try to spend more time chatting with the elderly to alleviate their loneliness.

(3) Participate in volunteer work, provide help to others, and show your love. At the same time, you can also chat and interact with others more often and gain a sense of social satisfaction.

(4) Join clubs or organizations, participate in team activities, and share interests and fun with others.

(5) Participate in team sports or outdoor activities to experience and enjoy the joy of physical activity with others.

(6) Use technology, such as video calls or social media, to stay connected with distant relatives and friends.

(7) Attend training courses or classes to meet like-minded people and learn new knowledge together.

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Use it or lose it. With these techniques, you can actively increase social interactions, build deep relationships, and provide your brain with rich cognitive stimulation.

Remember, chatting is not only an enjoyable activity, it can also effectively prevent dementia.

Let us value interpersonal relationships, pay attention to communication with others, and create a better future for our own health and happiness.

References

1.ZHENG H, CAGNEY K, CHOI Y. Predictors of cognitive functioning trajectories among older Americans: A new investigation covering 20 years of age- and non-age-related cognitive change. PLoS One. 2023, 8, 18(2): e0281139.

2.BALLARD C, CORBETT A, ORRELL M, et al. Impact of person-centred care training and person-centred activities on quality of life, agitation, and antipsychotic use in people with dementia living in nursing homes: A cluster-randomised controlled trial. PLoS Med. 2018, 6, 15(2): e1002500.