During a long drive back from my 1983 high school reunion this weekend, my mind was flooded with memories. As I allowed these memories to process, I began to feel more and more reconnected to different parts of myself. I believe this is due to the wonderful connections I made 40 years ago, singing in the school choir, playing doubles on the JV tennis team, and participating in the debate team. I was lucky to have terrific friends who cared so much about me long ago, and in turn, who I cared about deeply. Within the very core of us, as human beings, we are social beings. And, it turns out, hanging out with friends not only stimulates but also protects our brains.

In his book, The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program, Dr. Gary Small includes studies that confirm socializing with others helps our cognitive ability. Spending time with friends and engaging in lively social conversations can help with memory recall, and can even prevent cell damage caused by inflammation. Talking with friends who are empathetic, can lessen our stress levels — stress being a risk factor for dementia. Staying socially active, he states, may reduce your risk of dementia by as much as 60%.

Creating a social environment for residents living with dementia can make a big impact on their cognitive abilities and sense of wellbeing. Yesterday, I facilitated a fun word game with a small group of residents, and the topic was animals who live in the ocean. Prior to the activity they were comfortably listening to music, but quiet and looking straight ahead. During the 20 minutes of playing, these residents began laughing, making eye contact with each other, and talking about their own amazing insights into animal behavior. Plus, their social connection appeared to remain for hours afterward. Even if the specific memory of the activity didn’t. This social experience gave me energy and motivates me to do more.

Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, (or in between like me), being with friends can make a big difference in your cognitive health, and theirs.