One Astonishing Secret to Keep Your Mind Sharp Is to Keep Your Friends Close

We are not meant to go it alone.

We love our friends, or they wouldn’t be a part of our lives. But did you realize they play a far-reaching role in our mental health?

We are social animals from the time we are born. I’m sure you’ve seen a toddler gravitate to other little ones at the playground. Interacting with others is instinctual.

Yet, it can be more challenging, as we age, to stay connected to our friends.

Some of us move many miles away; divorces interfere with friendships — life happens.

It’s certainly easier if you have a regular weekly group with whom you play tennis or, perhaps, a volunteer meeting to plan an upcoming event. An activity, such as bridge, as an 84-year-old friend does, fills the bill nicely.

Engaging in a sport regularly, as I do with pickleball, serves the purpose, as well. Yet, even with pickleball, we must make an effort to reach out to one another to set up “playdates.”

Staying connected to our friends is the secret sauce to a vital and engaged brain.

Our pickleball group takes the time to check in, keeping abreast of the relevant issues in our lives and giving us a double dose of feel-good vibes. Also, these dates ensure our friendship, spirit, and grand times continue.

We rally when a scary diagnosis is delivered by reaching out to our friend and bringing dinner or being an extra set of ears at the doctor’s office.

My dear friend Cher drove and accompanied me to all my appointments when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. (My husband is unable to help as he has difficulty walking due to an injury).

She asked questions when I was speechless and even recorded the surgeon’s explanation of what would occur in the operating room.

Without her, I would’ve been toast.

Friends are imperative for our emotional and mental health.

Some of my deepest and most heartfelt conversations take place on the phone with my sister, my best friend. We live a two-hour plane ride away, so the telephone is our primary means of communication. Our talks keep us up-to-date on each other’s lives, from the mundane to the inevitable upsets and joys of living.

We also inspire one another by reviewing our current interests, from volunteering to our exercise routines to politics. We also discuss the latest books or movies we’re enjoying.

These conversations add to a feeling of connection — giving us a dopamine boost and aiding brain and body functioning.

Interestingly, simply living with family members — merely cohabitating, does not decrease one’s likelihood of developing dementia, according to Mylea Charvat, Ph.D. in Psychology Today:

To reap the potential benefits of social interactions, individuals must be engaged and participate in social activities outside the family, which is one of the strongest preventative measures against dementia. Social activities include sharing meals, conversations, playing games, attending lectures, and exercising, to name a few.

Surveys show that 60% of older American women live alone. Those who interact with family, friends, and the community thrive. Those who don’t decline.

Dr. Chavat reports that one study conducted by the National Institutes of Health determined that just 10 minutes of daily social interaction increases performance on cognitive assessments and can give us a crucial mental edge as we age.

Do you have 10 minutes a day to avoid the slippery slope of brain deterioration? Perhaps call your neighbor and go for a walk.

According to the website NeuroNation:

When it comes to maintaining health and facing life’s challenges, friendship can truly be a blessing. Strong social ties — through friends, family, and community groups, can preserve our brain health as we age, while social isolation may be a key risk factor for cognitive decline in the elderly.

The following quote inspires me:

You have to keep busy. An able person should do something and helping kids is what I like to do. — Agnes “Granny” Zhelesnik, age 100, America’s Oldest Teacher, Sundance School, N.J.

“Granny” taught ages 3 to kindergarten — beyond the age of 102!

W.J. O’Reilly, head of the Sundance School in North Plainfield, N.J., said:

Every day she is very, very positive, very motivated. She’s very much focused on the happiness of the children. When asked what’s her secret, she says she loves what she does and she loves taking care of the children and that’s her formula for happiness and success.

Granny’s daily interactions with the children kept her brain sharp and young. How can we not be invigorated by this woman?

Sure, they’re children she’s interacting with — but the point is to interact. Period.

Yesterday at Costco, I offered an elderly couple to go ahead as they only had a few items. They said they were in no hurry. In his 80’s (my guess), this delightful husband then proceeded to help me unload my items to be scanned by the checker.

We had a short but pleasant conversation that brightened my day. They came directly from the golf course, and I from the pickleball court. It appeared the sweet Mr. and Mrs. were also delighted by our chat.

This lovely couple may not be my friends. However, our interaction created the same result — a gladdened heart — the same that would have resulted had they been my pals.

Connecting, committing, and caring about others is paramount in energizing and maintaining our sharp minds.