Kindness and Brain Health

Kindness Reduces Alzheimer’s Risk and Other Cognitive Decline

Being kind not only reduces the risk of Alzheimer's or dementia, but it also helps you lead a healthier and more balanced lifestyle overall. According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, staying socially connected is one of the best ways to keep your mind healthy and reduce your risk of dementia.

Research shows that regularly interacting with others can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and maintain strong relationships - all of which are important factors in reducing your risk of developing dementia.

Staying socially active can help reduce risk factors for dementia, such as depression and social isolation. You can achieve this by making the most of daily opportunities to socialize and by practicing random acts of kindness, such as smiling at someone or paying it forward.

Mutual Benefits

These actions offer mutual benefits and not only brighten someone else's day but yours as well! Make time to volunteer, whether in service clubs or by joining a hobby group. Volunteering can boost self-esteem and confidence, and it can expand your network of social support.

Maintain old friendships and make new ones by staying social through work, volunteering, travel, hobbies, family, and friends. Be open to new experiences – accept invitations and extend a few of your own.

Keep up your old and new friendships by talking on the phone, chatting online via email or social media, or even writing a letter.

Other studies also indicate that maintaining strong social connections and staying mentally active as we age can lower the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's.

Although the reason for this association is not fully understood, it is clear that there is a correlation. So whether through volunteering or other acts of kindness, there is evidence to suggest that kindness can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and lower the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's.

Extra Kindness Ideas

Here are a couple of extra ideas of kindness acts, don’t forget to be kind to yourself, and read the blog post about the “You Matter Cards”!

Bake cookies and share them with your coworkers.
Pay for the coffee of the person behind you in line.
Volunteer to walk dogs at your local animal shelter.
Collect canned goods for a local food bank.
Leave a generous tip for your server at a restaurant.
Write a heartfelt recommendation for a colleague or friend.
Send a surprise gift to a friend for no reason at all.
Share your knowledge by teaching a free community workshop.
Share your umbrella with someone caught in the rain.
Create and distribute hygiene kits to homeless people.

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