By Karen Sternheimer
According to a recently published study of older adults at risk for cognitive decline, increased social engagement was one of four factors that led to cognitive improvement during a two-year period (the others were exercise, healthy diet, and cognitive challenges). In other words, beyond physical and mental exercise, we need “social exercise” too.
The experimental group in this study not only had a structured exercise program and diet to follow, but they also had to participate in mandatory social activities. “Socializing is one of the best ways to keep your brain young,” an NPR story on this study concludes. But why?
For sociologists, this is perhaps the most intriguing findings of this study. While not a surprise, it is a reminder of the numerous ways that interacting with others is a cognitive skill that can be sharpened. Just like a muscle, a lack of social interaction can weaken the cognitive skills we “flex” through “social exercise.”
As we interact with others, we practice listening, process what others say to us, and (hopefully) empathy. Conversations with friends and family we have known for a while exercise our memory, as they might ask us to recall events from the past we otherwise might not. Our interactions can also be sources of support when we need help and provide us with more social interaction if we visit and attend social events with others.
One of the biggest challenges older people may face, especially if their mobility is limited, is simply getting out to interact with others. This can lead to a spiraling effect: less interaction can also mean less physical activity if people stay home more and become increasingly isolated. As people withdraw from others there is less mental engagement, and their world gets smaller.
For many of us, work is inherently about problem solving and interacting with others, no matter what you do. I have written extensively about emotional labor as central to the educational experience, regardless of your social role. Whether it’s dealing with a difficult coworker or customer, the disappointment of a test score, or figuring out the building where your class meets, students and people in the labor market regularly face these challenges.
We might long for the days that these challenges are gone, but then our “social exercise” can wane too. When working—which includes being a student—our lives are often busy, and we need to figure out how to juggle our responsibilities and squeeze in free time. For some retirees, the absence of work can create more free time than they are prepared to fill, as well as a loss of identity when they leave behind their career-related identities. These social “muscles” might begin to weaken if not worked regularly.
The study noted above is cause for optimism: older adults can improve their cognitive health by, in part, strengthening their social ties. This can be hard even for young adults after they finish school and perhaps find themselves in different places—geographically and economically—but also relationship and family status might differ, reducing commonalities people once had as classmates. This can be amplified for older people, but that creates an opportunity for connection, especially for people in an eldercare facility.
Many cities and communities have programs focusing on activities for seniors, and universities and colleges often have lifelong learning opportunities or extension programs that don’t require enrollment to participate. These kinds of programs can be a trifecta of sorts, offering intellectual, social, and physical engagement.
Opportunities for social exercise can come in many different forms. Over the past few years, several of my elderly family members have passed away. Ironically, their funerals have been sources of social interaction for survivors. Seeing friends and family not seen in years strengthens bonds while comforting each other in a time of loss. At a recent funeral, a family member chatted with someone she had never met before and found that they grew up near one another and had several friends in common, expanding her social network.
As our population ages, these issues are going to become increasingly important, not just for our individual well-being but for our social institutions and economy in general. What other ideas do you have to create more “social exercise” to maintain strong social interactions?