Unveiling a Novel Brain Shrinkage Factor Found in the Elderly
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Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan found that older people who don’t have limited social contacts have a smaller brain size compared to those with extensive social connections.
The Journal of Neurology indicates that the 8,896 people who participated in this study, with a mean age of 73 and without dementia, underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and physical examination. To determine the number of social contacts, they were asked one question: How often do you communicate with relatives or friends who do not live with you? Are you dating or talking on the phone?
The results showed that the brain size of people with very limited social contacts is much smaller than the brain size of people with extensive social contacts. The researchers also took into account other factors that could affect brain size: age, diabetes, smoking and physical activity.
The researchers suggest that establishing and maintaining social bonds may be beneficial in preventing brain atrophy and dementia.
However, the results of this study cannot be generalized to other regions of the world as it was limited to older Japanese only. The study also does not prove that social isolation causes brain shrinkage, but only shows a correlation.
Source: newspaper.ru