Social Life and Cognitive Function in Old Age

With rising life expectancy and ageing populations, there are increasing interests in successful aging. Healthy cognitive function is one of the important components of successful aging and recently many researchers have focused on social engagement as a protective factor of neurocognitive disorders and cognitive decline in old age. This article reviews the literature on protective effects of social engagement on cognitive functions in older adults. The effects of social engagement on cognitive aging were investigated focusing two separate aspects, i. e. social network structure such as size of network, frequency of contact, and level of social activity, and network quality such as social support and conflict. Research findings supported consistently the protective effects of social activity on cognition, while findings on the effects of social network, social support and conflict were inconsistent. Social engagement positively affected cognitive function when the social interaction was cognitively challenging. Social engagement seems to increase cognitive reserve via cognitive stimulation and play protective roles in age-associated cognitive decline. Lastly, the implications of these results for social life in old age and suggestions for future studies were discussed.

keywords: Social engagement, Social network, Social Activity, Social exchange, Cognitive Reserve, Aging, 사회참여, 사회연결망, 사회활동, 사회 교환, 인지비축, 노화

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Article Contents

Vol.34 No.1

Social Life and Cognitive Function in Old Age

Abstract

Reference

Korean Journal of Psychology: General