Social networks may help protect cognitive functioning in later life, particularly among older adults who are no longer working, according to a new IIASA-led study. Drawing on data from 27 European countries, the researchers found that social connections can help compensate for the loss of mentally stimulating interactions linked to work, with different types of relationships benefiting women and men.

As populations age across Europe, maintaining cognitive health has become an increasingly important public health challenge. While previous research has shown that both employment and social relationships are associated with better cognitive functioning, little has been known about how these factors interact or whether their effects differ by gender.

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"A strong social network appears to buffer the cognitive disadvantage of not working, but the pattern is clearly gendered. For women, having a diverse social network appears to compensate for the loss of engagement opportunities often provided by work. For men, close personal ties, often with a spouse or partner, may play a particularly important role. In addition, we found that non-employed men with no social ties had especially low episodic memory scores, highlighting the potential risks associated with social isolation," adds co-author Daniela Weber, a senior research scholar at IIASA and an assistant professor of health economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

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"In aging societies, helping older adults maintain good cognitive functioning is a major public health priority. Our results suggest that interventions should reflect the different ways men and women benefit from social connections. Programs that help older women build and maintain diverse social networks may be especially valuable, while for older men, preventing social isolation and supporting close relationships may matter more," says Valeria Bordone, professor of sociology at the University of Vienna and guest senior research scholar at IIASA.

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