Start the Year Sharp: One of the Most Overlooked Ways to Support Your Brain

-Dr. Amy Chhadia, MD

What’s one of the most impactful ways to improve your cognitive health during this post-holiday season?

Most people would guess sleep, exercise, or nutrition.
Important ... but incomplete.

One of the strongest, most consistent predictors of long-term cognitive health is social connection.

Large longitudinal data show that chronic social isolation is associated with up to a ~50% increased risk of dementia, placing it in the same risk category as physical inactivity and cardiometabolic disease (Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care; 2020, updated 2023).

Why?

Meaningful human interaction modulates the stress response, lowers cortisol, and reduces chronic inflammation. It activates complex neural networks, supports neuroplasticity, and preserves cognitive reserve.

Connection isn’t just “nice to have.” It modulates stress hormones, reduces inflammation, and stimulates the neural networks that keep your brain sharp. This matters even more during these dreary winter months, when circadian disruption, stress load, and isolation quietly compound.

Quick win: Start small. Send a message, make a 5-minute call, or share coffee with someone meaningful today. These micro-connections accumulate and actively support cognitive resilience.

Cognitive performance is not just biochemical - it’s relational. Our brains evolved for connection.