Most people know that being alone can negatively impact your mental health, but it turned out that it can also decrease your memory and cognition.
Staying connected with friends and family becomes even more crucial considering the impact of social isolation on memory, learning, and behavior.
Let's find out more.
A new discovery
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine conducted a study using animal models and found that social isolation led to hyperactivity in astrocytes, the most abundant brain cells, which suppressed brain circuit function and memory formation.
However, inhibiting this astrocyte hyperactivity was found to reverse the cognitive deficits associated with social deprivation.
During the COVID pandemic, it became apparent that social isolation can influence cognitive functions, leading researchers to investigate the effects on astrocytes more specifically.
Under normal conditions, astrocytes play supportive roles in the brain, such as assisting neurons, synapse formation, and neurotransmitter release.
However, during social deprivation, they were found to suppress circuit function and memory formation in the hippocampus, an important brain region.
Why is it important?
The study revealed an exciting new role for astrocytes in brain physiology, showing that changes in the environment, such as social interaction, can impact astrocyte function, which, in turn, affects an animal's behavior.
The findings emphasize the importance of staying socially connected to support brain health and cognitive functions.
