On this Christmas Day, loved ones come together to share delicious moments. Social interactions also help nourish good humor and fight against cognitive decline and even diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Swapping allows the brain to exercise, nourishing cognitive reserve.
Some studies have shown that participants who are less isolated, with a rich social fabric, have fewer symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, even if they have brain damage equivalent to more isolated people. As if the brain had had more exercise, and knew how to bypass the lesions.
The quality and diversity of relationships is also important. It is advisable to talk and play with your children, rather than interacting with them through a screen. You have to play games or even offer activities. The most important being toavoid screens in children and adolescents. They must also be banned before six years.
Contemplating nature helps “restore attention”
For seniors to stimulate their cognitive reserve, it is essential to interact with them as much as possible. As we age, some may feel a loss of control and become more anxious. Including them also allows them to feel less isolated and improves their mental health. You have to get on their level, hold their hand and listen to the music they loved when they were young, for example. When an elderly person also suffers from hearing problems, it is better to consult a specialist because this isolates them and greatly accelerates cognitive decline.
Beyond conversations, moments of sharing or even games, walks in nature with the family are also beneficial. Movement nourishes good humor. Exposing yourself to daylight helps optimize wakefulness and improve the sleep-wake rhythm. Being in nature and contemplating it also allows us to “restore attention”, which is often exhausted by the incessant stimulation of daily life.