Social Interaction Prevents (?) Dementia--people need people!

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

Here's more evidence in support of social interaction (and other stuff) as a part of good mental hygiene..... from that august publication, Yahoo. (OK, that last part was part joke.)

Work Demands May Influence Dementia Risk

[VizslaMom]

"Challenging work with high control possibilities and high social demands might prevent the development of dementia," study author Dr. Andreas Seidler, of Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany told Reuters Health.

Nice theory, but I don't agree.

My grandfather was a very intelligent man. He was the Vice President of Beef Productions with the Hormel Co. for many years. A very socially active man, he always kept busy at home even after retirement.

He had very advanced Alzheimer's disease when he passed away 4 years ago.

[Katnip, RN]

Not sure if I can agree, either.

My husband's aunt was a nurse anesthetist. She got a PhD and taught anesthesia for a while. She has dementia, probably Alzheimer's. Her sister and her brother-in-law (my husband's parents) also had it. They grew up in a mining town. They died in their 80s. Auntie is in her late 70s, I believe.

It seems to me, that it might have been more environmental than anything, since so many of that generation in their town have a very high rate of severe dementia.

Of course, our two cases here are anecdotal. We haven't done an empirical study.

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

I'm pretty sure it says "might prevent" or "helps prevent." In other words, persons who are socially isolated, do not use their intellect, do not stay busy, etc., etc., are more likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, than persons who stay mentally, physically and socially active.

It's fairly well established that Alzheimers (and other dementias) have multiple causal and contributory factors including environmental and hereditary ones....

Sorry about your grampa and your auntie. That's a rough way to go, for everybody concerned.

[Katnip, RN]

Ahhh. Chris and I replied at the same time.

I agree. Because my mother-in-law was very socially active, and she and her husband were always doing word puzzles and reading. So in their cases, I really believe there was some environmental aspect.

I have seen other studies though that support the "use it or lose it" factor. It does seem to make a difference if you retire and sit around doing nothing, or if you retire and stay active and become a lifelong learner.

Which is good for me, because I will never stop taking classes and learning new things.

[VizslaMom]

Yeah, I think it's more heredity than anything. (unfortunately for us decendents)

He was also a Type I diabetic. I think this contributed to the advanced dementia of his disease as well.

I work in a hospital that has a large rural base. We get many old farm wives that are sharp as a tack into their 80's and 90's.

[Blackcat99]

My mother has mild ALzheimer's. She has plenty of money and could afford to go into a nice retirement center which has many social activities. Unfortunately, she insists that she stay in her own house. She goes to adult day care twice a week but still gets lonely. Yes I think more social interaction would be very helpful for her.