Research

Adherence

Good social engagement is modestly protective against dementia, particularly in long-term studies (≥10 years) and when adjusted for depression.

Maintain regular social interactions and a supportive social network, as this may offer modest protection against dementia, especially over the long term. Focus on activities that provide social support and network strength, as these are more consistently linked to reduced risk than subjective feelings of loneliness.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
In long-term studies (≥10 years), good social engagement was modestly protective (RR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.80–0.96; I2 = 0.00%).
Ross Penninkilampi et al. · Journal of Alzheimer s Disease · 2018

Why this rating

Meta-analysis shows significant publication bias and heterogeneity, making the conclusion 'tenuous' according to the authors.

Source

The Association between Social Engagement, Loneliness, and Risk of Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Ross Penninkilampi et al. · Journal of Alzheimer s Disease · 2018

DOI 10.3233/jad-180439

Meta-analysis · 33 studiesCited 516×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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