Seeing friends regularly lowers dementia risk, study suggests

Being socially active in your fifties and sixties lowers the risk of developing dementia in later life, according to new research.

Academics at University College London found that someone who saw friends almost daily at the age of 60 was 12 per cent less likely to develop dementia than someone who only saw one or two friends every couple of months.

Having an active social life “at any age may well have a similar impact on reducing dementia risk”, according to the researchers.

Socialising promotes the use of memory and language, which could help minimise the effect of dementia, according to Professor Gill Livingston, a senior author of the report.

She added: “People who are socially engaged are exercising cognitive skills such as memory and language, which may help them to develop cognitive reserve – while it may not stop their brains from changing, cognitive reserve could help people cope better with the effects of age and delay any symptoms of dementia.

Read more by visiting The Independent website.