The high prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in America makes it important that we take measures to keep our brain in tip-top condition to lower the chances of developing any form of dementia. Of course, diet and exercise (both physical and mental through brain-stimulating activities) are the cornerstone of that, but another vital factor is social connection or staying socially engaged (of course, in keeping with the Covid safety protocols in view of the times we are in).

Social isolation or lack of social interactions could be detrimental for your health in that it puts someone at the receiving end of smoking, obesity and hypertension, whereas socially engaged

1.      increases your shelf life by as much as 50 percent,

2.      helps in recovering fast from an injury or disease,

3.      improves the immune system, and very importantly,

4.      keeps you from memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease.

There are studies to back up the connection between loneliness and Alzheimer’s disease. According to research, social isolation or lack of social interaction is associated with a higher rate of decline in memory. This can be attributed to increased stress, anxiety, depression, low confidence and lack of intellectual stimulation that stems from being lonely.

In spite of social connectedness being an important component of health and survival, loneliness is on an all-time high, the situation has worsened post pandemic, and rightly so, social distancing is important to curb the spread of the virus. It is also true that in this era of technology you can follow both (maintain social distancing while staying connected) side by side by means of gadgets.

Actually, you should look at the pandemic as an opportunity to connect with your friends and family who often times are left behind in our fast-paced lives. Now is a good time to introspect and reignite connection in view of the remote work trend, which may not be going anywhere any time soon.

1.      Get in touch with a friend

2.      Restore connection with a loved one

3.      Adopting a pet is a good idea

4.      Sign up for a class for dancing, playing a musical instrument, or anything you like

5.      This is a good time to journal extensively

6.      Some fun group activities include book clubs, educational classes, etc.

7.      Work out together (yoga, water aerobics, walking)

8.      Volunteer for something

These activities will take your stress, sadness, anxiety away, and will boost your self-esteem, make you feel productive and make you more empathetic, which will greatly improve your quality of life. This will reflect in your social behaviors that’ll lead to further engagement with others.

Eat well and work out regularly, but also make sure to connect. Social isolation makes you vulnerable to disease and death beyond conventional risk factors, such as high blood pressure, smoking, physical activity or its lack thereof. You can simply begin by making that call to a friend or video calling a family member. Not to mention, joining a club, volunteering, and more to build healthy, long-lasting relationships.