Healthy Brain Aging in a COVID World

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the lives of many Americans.

Older adults, in particular, likely suffered because of their increased risk of illness from the virus and the negative impact of isolation on their quality of life. The pandemic forced us to limit contact with others, and it has been found that loneliness may increase the risk of developing memory problems, like dementia. Dementia is a term describing the decline in a person’s cognition and functioning over time, and it is a concern for the aging population.

Some risk factors for dementia are modifiable, meaning they can be controlled to reduce one’s risk. Socialization and cognitive stimulation are both factors that can help reduce dementia risk. It has been shown that those with more social interactions in their community often experience slower rates of memory decline. Currently, with the emergence of the highly contagious delta variant, there is an increased risk of COVID infection amongst vaccinated individuals, though risk of hospitalization and death are lower for the vaccinated. So, vaccinated older adults should still take protective measures, but it is possible to

Healthy Brain Aging in a COVID World slowly and safely begin participating in activities that can contribute to healthy brain aging. Activities that promote socialization and stimulation include meeting with friends or family, volunteering, joining a club, attending a religious service, or learning something new – like an instrument or knitting, to name a few. These community and social engagements are like exercise for the brain, and they are positively associated with healthy aging. Introducing social activities back into daily routines may be overwhelming for seniors, after living secured and secluded for so long during the pandemic. It is possible to start small, and cautiously incorporate social interactions back into their lives. This can be done by picking one meaningful activity or relationship to focus on. In fact, Continued on next page