Wake Forest study links chronic stress and social support to cognitive aging

A study led by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine suggests that chronic stress and social support levels influence how cognitive abilities, such as memory and attention, change during aging.

Published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, the research followed 3,873 adults aged 50 and older through the Health and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities (HABS-HD). The findings indicate that higher levels of social support at the start of the study were linked to less decline in attention over time, a trend observed regardless of race or sex.

However, the impact of chronic stress varied across demographic groups. Women reporting higher chronic stress experienced greater declines in language and attention compared to men. Additionally, Hispanic participants with higher chronic stress showed greater memory decline compared to non-Hispanic participants. Notably, the study found that social support and stress act independently, meaning strong social networks did not necessarily offset the cognitive decline associated with chronic stress.