Summer, the season that invites us back to one another. Talks on the porch with neighbors, passing by on evening walks, and interacting with the community throughout the week. Our brain craves simple, yet effective social interactions like these. Being social with one another isn’t just pleasant for the brain, it’s also protective. Our brains are the most complex organ in our body, and it’s important that we keep it as healthy as possible. While physical exercise is important, so is mental exercise. One of the easiest forms of exercise for the brain is simply being social.

More than 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and by 2050 that number is projected to grow to nearly 13 million. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s can cause memory loss, communication difficulties, and behavioral changes that get progressively worse with time. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s now, there are preventative steps that help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

 When you communicate with others, you challenge your brain to interpret different surroundings, verbal cues, and visual cues. Each time you interact in conversation you also exercise your brain. Our brain not only thrives off social interactions, but it also needs it.

On the other hand, social isolation can be a strong force behind cognitive decline. Social isolation can lead to depression, stress, and loneliness. Avoiding isolation can reduce certain risks related to Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

Challenge yourself to take the initiative to participate in social interaction. It could be phoning a friend, meeting for coffee, or simply interacting with people doing daily activities. If you’re wondering how to build social habits, the National Institute of Health has created a “Social Wellness Toolkit” with just six simple steps.

Step One: Make connections. Having social connections may help you protect yourself and lengthen life.

Step Two: Take care of yourself while caring for others. There is a chance that many of us may have to become caregivers at some point in our life. Find ways to take care of your health while providing for others.

Step Three: Get active together. Physical activity can improve health, mood, and energy.

Step Four: Shape your family’s health habits. Your influence on children and those around you can make a difference in shaping healthy behaviors.

Step Five: Bond with your kids.Children with strong connections to caregivers are more likely to be able to cope with the challenges of life.

Step Six: Build healthy relationships. Strong, healthy relationships can impact your physical and mental well-being.

If you or a loved one is looking for more social interactions, there are many ways to incorporate meaningful connections into your life. Visiting with your neighbors, volunteering in the community, joining a fitness club, or keeping up regular phone calls with family and friends can all strengthen social bonds. By exploring events in the community and prioritizing social connections, you can provide your brain with the proper exercise it needs and support long-term cognitive health. Sometimes taking the first step to more social interaction is hard. Visit southwesthealth.org to get information about different mental health services.