Socialization brings us benefits on a mental and physical level

Socialization is important for brain health

Our brains need socialization

Social interaction has been a major part of cognitive development from the day you were born. Early relationships and interactions with parents, siblings, friends, and teachers taught you how to speak, interpret and express emotions, and expand your knowledge.

As an adult, socialization is just as important in keeping your brain active. Building social networks and participating in social activities are like exercises for your brain because they keep your mind agile and improve cognitive function.

Socialization can even help prevent mental decline and lower the risk of dementia. A 2017 study published by researchers at the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine found that individuals 80 and above with the mental agility of 50-year-olds all had one factor in common: A close-knit group of friends.

Brains have traditionally been studied in isolation, but that approach overlooks the fact that an enormous amount of brain circuitry has to do with other brains. We are deeply social creatures. From our families, friends, co-workers, and business partners, our societies are built on layers of complex social interactions.

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All this social glue is generated by specific circuitry in the brain: sprawling networks that monitor other people, communicate with them, feel their pain, judge their intentions, and read their emotions. Social interaction doesn’t just boost our mood, it feeds our brains. We need it to keep that specific circuitry in the brain healthy and functioning.

In a California study published by the American Journal of Public Health, researchers reported that older women who managed large social networks reduced their risk of dementia by 26%. And women who had daily contact with their network cut their risk of dementia by almost half.

Here are occasional social activities we can be involved in:

Lower Stress Levels. Participating in social activities like group exercise classes, group walks, or clubs encourage healthy lifestyle habits and can take your mind off stressors in your life better than activities you do on your own.

Decrease Depression and Anxiety. Close and supportive relationships with family and friends can improve your self-worth, lower depressive symptoms, and help you feel accepted. When you have people to lean on for emotional support and do enriching activities with, you’re less likely to struggle with depression and anxiety.

Improve Overall Life Satisfaction. When you have close friends and family to interact with and spend time with every day, you’re more likely to feel happy and fulfilled. A 2016 study published in Psychology and Aging found that people who are socially active throughout their lives tend to report higher late-life satisfaction.

So, if you’re looking for a reason to linger at your weekly coffee date with the girls, or take your grandkids to the park, here it is. Socializing isn’t just about having fun — it’s about keeping your brain healthy.

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