Study of Elderly Women Shows Health Benefit of Friendship and Family Ties

June 20, 2008 -- Elderly women who maintain close friendships and strong family ties are less likely to develop dementia than women who are less sociable, according to new research funded by the National Institute on Aging.

The latest findings, published in this week's American Journal of Public Health, add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that strong social networks can protect against dementia.

Previous studies have showed that adults who live alone or who have no social ties have a much higher risk for cognitive impairment than those who have more social connections.

Dementia is a decline in cognitive (thinking) function that greatly affects one's day-to-day activities and relationships. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
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