A recent study carried out at Massachusetts General Hospital has demonstrated the potential of web-based conversations to improve cognitive abilities in elderly persons who are socially isolated. Known as the I-CONECT experiment, this project used online dialogues to improve memory and executive function, providing a glimmer of hope for addressing the cognitive effects of social isolation.
Led by Hiroko H. Dodge, the principal investigator of the National Institutes of Health-funded trials, the study engaged 186 participants who are above 75 and older in structured video chats four times weekly, for a year. These virtual dialogues not only improved cognitive scores, but also promoted emotional health and enhanced connections in attention-related brain areas.
The trial’s methodology was carefully designed. The participants engaged with interviewers using webcams and the Internet. Easily operating gadgets were offered to ensure smooth participation even for individuals who are not familiar with using the internet or webcam.
The trial’s findings showed a significant influence of internet discussions on cognition (mental processes). When compared to the control group, the global cognition test scores and language-based executive functions of the intervention group, participants showed substantial gains. Particularly striking was the substantial effect size observed among individuals with mild cognitive impairment. This suggests the potential of web-based chats as a therapeutic intervention in cognitive decline.
Both the intervention and control groups’ emotional well-being scores significantly improved, supporting the beneficial effects of consistent social interaction on mental health. The brain imaging tests provided more information about the neurological advantages of digital interactions.
Encouraged by the trial’s outcome, Dodge and her associates founded the charity I-CONNECT Foundation, which aims to give social connections to elderly people who are alone. The goal of the foundation’s community outreach initiatives is to address the widespread problem of social isolation and its detrimental impact on one’s cognitive health.
In the future, the study team hopes to extend the intervention’s reach to geriatric outpatient populations, emphasising the treatment of depressed symptoms and lowering the risk of dementia. The I-CONECT trial’s results provide some optimism as society struggles with issues brought on by an ageing population and rising rates of social isolation. We can improve lives and create thriving communities for future generations by utilising the power of digital discourse to support older peoples’ emotional and cognitive health.
Given the focus on cognitive abilities and social interaction in the context of the I-CONECT trial, the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST) is an interesting psychological phenomenon.
According to SST, older adults tend to invest more time and effort in maintaining close relationships and seek out social experiences that fulfil their emotional needs. This theory suggests that social motives can generally be categorized into two groups: those focused on acquiring knowledge and those aimed at regulating emotions. When individuals perceive time as unlimited, they tend to prioritize goals related to knowledge acquisition.
Conversely, when time is perceived as limited, goals about emotional regulation take precedence. The theory highlights the close link between one’s perception of the remaining time in life and their chronological age, resulting in age-related variations in social objectives. This means that as we age, we humans become increasingly selective in our social relationships and prioritise emotionally meaningful interactions over other sorts of relations.
References +
Carstensen, L. L., Isaacowitz, D. M., & Charles, S. T. (1999). Taking time seriously. A theory of socioemotional selectivity. The American psychologist, 54(3), 165–181. https://doi.org/10.1037//0003-066x.54.3.165
