The researchers examined a sample of 476 adults aged 50 and over in Israel from the Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) survey. In order to obtain a more accurate understanding of the participants’ sense of value in various social areas, they were asked, among other things, about their contribution to the well-being of family members, friends and the community, including support actions of time, money or advice were taken into account. Later, the participants were given tasks with cognitive performance, such as: repeating ten words that were read to them immediately and after ten minutes, solving calculus exercises and more.
The data analysis revealed a direct relationship between a sense of value and usefulness to cognitive performance, so that this explained 34% of cognitive performance, based on a correlation between usefulness and cognition variables. The effect of the sense of usefulness was the strongest among adults defined as having a low ‘cognitive reserve’.
That is, for those with a low level of education, with limited social activity. For this group, the feeling that they are needed by others can serve as a compensation mechanism for previous deprivations, such as low education in earlier periods of life.
“Cognitive reserve is often built up throughout life through higher education, the type and complexity of employment and mental challenges, resources that we have not all been privileged to accumulate to an equal extent,” explains Prof. Kuhn-Shortz, “Our research shows that a sense of usefulness and necessity for the environment can be an accessible and significant compensation mechanism.”
“In order to maintain the brain health of the older population, it is not enough to fill their day with activities, but we must create meaning for them by integrating them into social and interpersonal roles where they will feel that their voice is heard and their skills are required.” Prof. Halaila adds: “It is not just the mere participation in an activity, such as volunteering, that protects the brain, but the subjective experience and the meaning that the person attributes to his contribution.”
While the discourse surrounding old age focuses on this age group as people who need support, the study emphasizes that the elderly population can actually help us all. The research findings also indicated a connection between a sense of usefulness and depressive symptoms, a factor known in the psychological literature as accelerating cognitive decline. People who felt more meaningful to their environment also felt less depressive symptoms, and this explained part of the association with cognition. Meaning, a sense of benefit to the environment contributes to less depression and hence also to better cognitive function.
Unlike education, which is difficult to change at a late age, a sense of value and meaning is a viable and cheap target for community intervention. The researchers call on policymakers and welfare organizations to invest in intergenerational programs, training roles, counseling and informal community leadership, which allow adults to share the wisdom of their lives and feel valuable to their environment.