Why is this important to having good brain health and better memory skills?
I think many of us understand that loneliness is not good for us. People on the whole are social beings and thrive on contact and interaction with others. How vivid is that image of an older person living alone, with little or no social contact. Apart from the disadvantage of being socially isolated, that person is also seriously disadvantaged in terms of increased risk of physical and mental ill health and is likely to age faster and die earlier. The incidence of mental illness including depression is more common in those living alone. Other studies have also demonstrated that people on their own are less likely to be engaged in maintaining good cognitive function and have a higher risk of dementia. Less external stimulation means less engagement with what is happening in the rest of the world, less likelihood of expanding or learning new mental skills, or of remaining interested or curious about what other things are going on. Having to use your brain in a social sense means you are
