Globally, dementia is increasing rapidly from 50 million today to over 150 million people by the year 2050. Besides the human toll involved with dementia, the social and care costs are currently $263 billion annually and is forecasted to increase to $1.6 trillion by 2050. It is therefore imperative to identify approaches to delay its onset, slow its progression or prevent it altogether. Beyond pharmacological treatments, scientists are looking into improvements in health and behavioral changes that might reduce risk of developing dementia later in life.
Lifestyle and Dementia
Researchers from around the world continue to examine factors which might reduce risk of neurodegenerative conditions including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Much has been discovered in this area and dementia rates have declined when individuals adopt healthier lifestyle habits including reduced tobacco and/or alcohol use or quitting altogether, a more plant-based diet, stress management, early and effective treatment of co-occurring disorders like diabetes and hypertension, and greater access to education.
12 Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors Associated with Dementia
According to the 2020 Lancet Commission for Dementia Prevention (1), Intervention and Care, there are at least 12 risk factors which have been identified as important and modifiable in reducing risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. They are:
- Lower education
- Hypertension
- Hearing impairment
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Depression
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
- Alcohol intake
- Poor sleep
- Air pollution
- Low social participation
It is the last risk factor – low social participation, which has ignited interest from a group of international researchers from London, The U.S., Japan, New Zealand and other countries. Some studies show that social participation is already associated with positive health outcomes like general health and well-being, stress reduction, and cognitive health.
What Does Social Participation Mean?
Social participation is defined by Levasseur and colleagues as “a person’s involvement in activities providing interactions with others in community life and in important shared spaces… based on the societal context and what individuals want and is meaningful to them”. (2) It also involves social contact within networks of people and the satisfaction derived from being a part of it. Some examples of social participation include:
- Creating or regular participation in support groups
- Volunteering at animal shelters, food banks of homeless shelters
- Helping out with blood drives, charity organizations or community gardens
- Performing at children’s hospitals or summer youth programs
Benefits of Social Participation
Being part of something bigger than one’s self can be gratifying in a number of ways. Ultimately it may reduce the risk of dementia later in life, but there more. Older adults can provide and receive support, thereby reducing loneliness and becoming socially withdrawn. Being active can yield positive health outcomes like reducing vascular damage, inflammation and depression. Social participation may buffer stress and build cognitive and brain reserves.
Final Thoughts on Social Participation Reducing the Risk of Developing Dementia
Dementia around the globe is expected to increase dramatically and although there are medications and lifestyle habits that may reduce risk, being socially active and participating in group activities that have meaning and purpose with like-minded people seem to have protective effects against the development of dementia. Although the relationship between social participation and reduction in dementia risk may be both direct and indirect, there is enough evidence to encourage older adults and seniors to become as engaged in as many social activities as they can.
Sources
- Sommerlad, Andrew, et al. Social Participation and Risk of Developing Dementia. Nature Aging, Volume 3:532-545. 2023.
- Levasseur, M. et al. Scoping Study of Definitions of Social Participation: Update and Co-construction of an Interdisciplinary Consensual Definition. Age and Aging, 51: afab215. 2022.