Scientists at the University of Zurich have, for the first time, objectively measured how much and how often older adults communicate in everyday life — and found out how this affects brain function. Eighty-three volunteers over 65 wore a miniature device for four weeks that automatically recorded fragments of sound every 18 minutes. Artificial intelligence analyzed the recordings, distinguishing the participants’ speech from other noises.
The results showed that the more actively a person took part in conversations, the higher their scores were for memory, processing speed and language flexibility. Moreover, the habit of communicating itself trains the brain and helps slow age-related changes. Age had little effect on how much people communicated, but having a partner doubled conversational activity. Interestingly, people with hearing complaints were more likely to initiate conversations themselves.
The study shows that communication is not only about socializing, but also about health. Keeping up a dialogue means protecting the brain.
