Resilience Through Social Connectedness and Cognition: Is Theory of Mind a Form of Enrichment for Older adults?

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Social connectedness is a modifiable lifestyle factor that delays age-related cognitive decline. Using cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental approaches, we examined whether theory of mind-inferring what others think or feel-is a potential mechanism underlying this relationship.

Methods

In Study 1, 305 community-dwelling older adults participating in two different, but related, studies completed comprehensive measures of general cognition, theory of mind, and personal social networks. We examined whether theory of mind mediated the relationship between older adults' social connectedness and cognition. One hundred and ten of those participants completed follow-up social network interviews and cognitive assessments about 1.5 years later to determine whether

SUBMITTER: Krendl AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11809257 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature