Higher Levels of Social Activity Decrease the Risk of Developing Disability in Old Age

Submitted by Robert-Huxford on Wed, 27/04/2011 - 8:49am

The study included 954 older adults with a mean age of 82. Results showed that a person who reported a high level of social activity was about twice as likely to remain free of a disability involving activities of daily living than a person with a low level of social activity, and about 1.5 times as likely to remain free of disability involving instrumental activities of daily living or mobility.

Possibly, social activity may reinforce the neural networks and musculoskeletal function required to maintain functional independence.
 

http://www.rush.edu/webapps/MEDREL/servlet/NewsRelease?id=1471