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Talking Improves Mental Fitness: What Science Says About the Power of Conversation

Busy entrepreneurs and remote workers often miss opportunities to socialize and chat. No conversations by the water cooler, rarely catching up over lunch with friends and few of those random exchanges with people at the bus stop. This isolation due to lack of time or access to a social network affects not just emotional well-being but is associated with higher risks of cognitive decline and dementia, most especially in the elderly.  

This study published in The Gerontologist, examined how something as simple as regular 30-minute conversations can help socially isolated individuals 75 years and older in terms of memory, emotional well-being, and overall cognitive health. The experiment offers interesting insights for those who may be missing some of that mental stimulation from regular social interaction.

Regular conversations can improve brain performance in as short as 6 months 

For this study, researchers recruited 186 elderly participants who reported feeling isolated. One hundred of them had mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the rest had normal cognitive function. 

The experimental group underwent 4x weekly 30-minute video conversations with trained staff, covering topics that required thoughtful engagement. They spoke on specific topics under themes like history, philosophy, social issues, travel, and leisure activities. Both the control and experimental groups also had weekly 10-minute phone calls where they were asked about their health and social activities. 

After just 6 months of 4x a week 30-minute conversations for the experimental group, those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) showed significantly improved scores on a general cognitive function test, equivalent to being 10 years younger. Those with normal cognition showed improved performance on a verbal fluency test. 

From 6 -12 months, the conversation frequency for the experimental group was scaled back to two 30-minute video conversations a week. At the end of this maintenance phase, those with MCI demonstrated improved performance on story recall tests, too. 

Meanwhile, participants in the control group (both with MCI and normal brain function) did not see such gains in general cognitive function, verbal fluency, or story recall at the 6 and 12-month testing periods.

Action Item: This study suggests that regular, substantive conversations (not just transactional communications) could work like “mental workouts” and can yield benefits in the short and long term. Note that it wasn’t just those with mild cognitive impairment who showed improved scores; those with normal cognition also gained verbal fluency. Just as we include gym visits and physical activity in our weekly schedules, in-depth and intellectually stimulating discussions should be part of our mental fitness routine. 

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Wishing you much productivity!

- Jenae :)