OBJECTIVES: Social engagement may be an important protective resource for cognitive aging. Some evidence suggests that time spent with friends may be more beneficial for cognition than time spent with family. Because maintaining friendships has been demonstrated to require more active maintenance and engagement in shared activities, activity engagement may be one underlying pathway that explains the distinct associations between contact frequency with friends versus family and cognition. METHODS: Using two waves of data from the national survey of Midlife in the United States (n = 3707, Mage = 55.80, 51% female at baseline), we examined longitudinal associations between contact frequency with friends and family, activity engagement (cognitive and physical activities), and cognition (episodic memory and executive functioning) to determine whether activity engagement mediates the relationship between contact frequency and cognition. RESULTS: The longitudinal mediation model revealed that more frequent contact with friends, but not family, was associated with greater concurrent engagement in physical and cognitive activities, which were both associated with better episodic memory and executive functioning. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that time spent with friends may promote both cognitively and physically stimulating activities that could help to preserve not only these social relationships but also cognitive functioning.
OBJECTIVES: Social engagement may be an important protective resource for cognitive aging. Some evidence suggests that time spent with friends may be more beneficial for cognition than time spent with family. Because maintaining friendships has been demonstrated to require more active maintenance and engagement in shared activities, activity engagement may be one underlying pathway that explains the distinct associations between contact frequency with friends versus family and cognition. METHODS: Using two waves of data from the national survey of Midlife in the United States (n = 3707, Mage = 55.80, 51% female at baseline), we examined longitudinal associations between contact frequency with friends and family, activity engagement (cognitive and physical activities), and cognition (episodic memory and executive functioning) to determine whether activity engagement mediates the relationship between contact frequency and cognition. RESULTS: The longitudinal mediation model revealed that more frequent contact with friends, but not family, was associated with greater concurrent engagement in physical and cognitive activities, which were both associated with better episodic memory and executive functioning. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that time spent with friends may promote both cognitively and physically stimulating activities that could help to preserve not only these social relationships but also cognitive functioning.
Authors: Alan R Teo; HwaJung Choi; Sarah B Andrea; Marcia Valenstein; Jason T Newsom; Steven K Dobscha; Kara Zivin Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2015-10-06 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Lindsay R Clark; Dawn M Schiehser; Gali H Weissberger; David P Salmon; Dean C Delis; Mark W Bondi Journal: J Int Neuropsychol Soc Date: 2011-11-24 Impact factor: 2.892
Authors: Scott M Hayes; Michael L Alosco; Jasmeet P Hayes; Margaret Cadden; Kristina M Peterson; Kelly Allsup; Daniel E Forman; Reisa A Sperling; Mieke Verfaellie Journal: J Int Neuropsychol Soc Date: 2015-11 Impact factor: 2.892
Authors: A Zarina Kraal; Hailey L Dotterer; Neika Sharifian; Emily P Morris; Ketlyne Sol; Afara B Zaheed; Jacqui Smith; Laura B Zahodne Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2021-07-13 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Brea L Perry; Will R McConnell; Max E Coleman; Adam R Roth; Siyun Peng; Liana G Apostolova Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2021-09-05 Impact factor: 16.655
Authors: Neika Sharifian; Afsara B Zaheed; Emily P Morris; Ketlyne Sol; Jennifer J Manly; Nicole Schupf; Richard Mayeux; Adam M Brickman; Laura B Zahodne Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2021-05-18 Impact factor: 21.566
Authors: Brea L Perry; William R McConnell; Siyun Peng; Adam R Roth; Max Coleman; Mohit Manchella; Meghann Roessler; Heather Francis; Hope Sheean; Liana A Apostolova Journal: Gerontologist Date: 2022-07-15