Social Stimulation Research Articles

Nutritional intake and adherence to dietary recommendation for patients with prodromal Alzheimers disease within a multimodal lifestyle trial

AbstractBackgroundMultimodal lifestyle interventions have proven successful with at‐risk populations; however, little is known of the interventions effect on patients with prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. Even less is known of feasibility and adherence to dietary recommendations within the population.MethodA 6‐month pilot trial was conducted with 93 participants randomized into three intervention arms. Two groups received physical exercise, cognitive training, nutritional guidance, monitoring and management of vascular and metabolic risk factors, and social stimulation, with one group receiving a medical food product. The third group was a self‐guided control group. Intake of individual macro‐ and micronutrients were analyzed from 3‐day food records. Adherence to recommendations assessed from food frequency questionnaires and by using a healthy diet index.ResultFor macro‐ and micronutrient intake there were no differences at the end of the intervention and intake was in line with other national food surveys. The group who received intervention and medical food product has significantly better healthy diet index score compared to the other groups.ConclusionThere were few longitudinal significant differences on macro‐ and micronutrient intake, however, dietary intake improved significantly in itself when the intervention was complemented with a medical food product.

REMIND – a novel “Music‐Movement‐Mind” intervention for the prevention of dementia

AbstractBackgroundLifestyle‐based motor, sensory and cognitive enrichment can target several health risk factors in the older populations by improving psychosocial, cognitive and physical (dys)function1,2. Based on these findings, we developed a novel intervention called REMIND (An Envi r onmental E nrich m ent I ntervention to Preve n t D ementia) for the promotion of healthy aging. REMIND uses dance movement therapy (DMT) and Tango Sistema Dinzel© to integrate enriching activities based on music, movement and mind into a multimodal program.ObjectiveTo present the REMIND program and feasibility check of the telehealth adaptation.MethodsThe intervention was developed and manualized in collaboration with neuropsychologists, neuroscientists and DMT specialists. Several modes of training are employed throughout the program, consisting of the three core components “Music, Movement, and Mind”. These core components are practiced simultaneously using facilitator‐guided exercises, each consisting of motor, sensory, cognitive, emotional, and social stimulations with increasing complexity. As such REMIND enables multimodal enrichment with the goal to improve cognitive and mental health of older adults by activating beneficial brain plasticity. The adaptation of the program into the telehealth setting was assessed qualitatively in four online expert sessions for feasibility.ResultsThe REMIND program is published as an open access manual (doi.org/10.30819/5504) targeting the older population3. Through the simultaneous combination of motor (Movement), sensory (Music), and mental (Mind) stimulations, REMIND promotes enrichment of the body and mind. In the telehealth setting, the multimodal exercises are best practiced via an interactive video‐conference platform, adapted to the needs of older people, using small groups (n = 4‐8) and guidance of a trained facilitator. Break‐out groups, feedback rounds, and joined participation of family members are used to enhance and sustain inter‐personal contact and positive learning experiences in the digital environment. Supplementary on‐site sessions can facilitate social integration and participation.ConclusionThe REMIND program provides a low‐threshold prevention and early intervention tool that is accessible to the target group and health care system. Adaptation to the telehealth setting is cost‐effective, adaptable to individual needs and can be integrated into everyday life. A proof‐of‐concept study will evaluate feasibility and effectiveness of the REMIND program to promote psychosocial, cognitive and physical wellbeing in older adults.

RESILIEN‐T: Field testing a lifestyle coaching app for subjective cognitive decline

AbstractBackgroundLinks between subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and dementia are encouraging older adults to optimize their physical and mental health. Self‐managing lifestyle factors such as physical activity, healthy eating, social and cognitive stimulation can contribute to this optimization. RESILIEN‐T is an international project co‐producing and field testing an integrated goal‐setting and coaching app with and for older adults.MethodPhase 1 iterative co‐production of the user interface, goal‐setting and coaching elements. Phase 2 mixed methods pilot trial with 15 participants with SCD (mean age 80 years) in four countries evaluated the prototype for two months. Phase 3 mixed‐methods field trial with 221 participants with SCD across four countries randomly assigned to the RESILIEN‐T intervention or control arm for three months. Minimum Data set of SCD (MAC‐Q) and health (EQ5D‐5L) were completed at baseline and end of trial, when usability (System Usability Scale) was also assessed.ResultAll pilot participants reported positive experiences with RESILIEN‐T, enjoying the easy‐to‐use interface and the daily suggestions to keep active. In the field study the MAC‐Q score improved in both groups, but this was only significant in the RESILIEN‐T group who improved significantly more than the control group. Health score improvement was higher in the RESILIEN‐T group but not significantly and SUS score was acceptable (71.9).ConclusionThe RESILIEN‐T project confirms the interest among older adults with SCD of self‐managing lifestyle factors to promote cognitive health. The results of this short‐term intervention show promise for people with SCD to positively impact their cognition

RESILIEN‐T: Field testing a lifestyle coaching app for subjective cognitive decline

AbstractBackgroundLinks between subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and dementia are encouraging older adults to optimize their physical and mental health. Self‐managing lifestyle factors such as physical activity, healthy eating, social and cognitive stimulation can contribute to this optimization. RESILIEN‐T is an international project co‐producing and field testing an integrated goal‐setting and coaching app with and for older adults.MethodPhase 1 iterative co‐production of the user interface, goal‐setting and coaching elements. Phase 2 mixed methods pilot trial with 15 participants with SCD (mean age 80 years) in four countries evaluated the prototype for two months. Phase 3 mixed‐methods field trial with 221 participants with SCD across four countries randomly assigned to the RESILIEN‐T intervention or control arm for three months. Minimum Data set of SCD (MAC‐Q) and health (EQ5D‐5L) were completed at baseline and end of trial, when usability (System Usability Scale) was also assessed.ResultAll pilot participants reported positive experiences with RESILIEN‐T, enjoying the easy‐to‐use interface and the daily suggestions to keep active. In the field study the MAC‐Q score improved in both groups, but this was only significant in the RESILIEN‐T group who improved significantly more than the control group. Health score improvement was higher in the RESILIEN‐T group but not significantly and SUS score was acceptable (71.9).ConclusionThe RESILIEN‐T project confirms the interest among older adults with SCD of self‐managing lifestyle factors to promote cognitive health. The results of this short‐term intervention show promise for people with SCD to positively impact their cognition

Transcriptomic signatures associated with underlying rapid changes in the early phase brain of bi-directional sex change in Trimma okinawae.

Teleost fish exhibit remarkable sexual plasticity and divergent developmental systems, including sequential hermaphroditism. One of the more fascinating models of sexual plasticity is socially controlled sex change, which is often observed in coral reef fish. The Okinawa rubble goby, Trimma okinawae, is a bi-directional sex-changing fish. It can rapidly change sex in either direction based on social circumstances. Although behavioural and neuroendocrine sex change occurs immediately and is believed to trigger gonadal changes, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a de novo transcriptome analysis of the T. okinawae brain and identified genes that are differentially expressed between the sexes and genes that were immediately controlled by social stimulation implicating sex change. Several genes showed concordant expression shifts regardless of the sex change direction and were associated with histone modification in nerve cells. These genes are known to function in the neuroendocrine control of reproduction in nerve cells. Overall, we identified genes associated with the initiation of sex change, which provides insight into the regulation of sex change and sexual plasticity.

Shaping the development of complex social behavior.

Early life experiences can have an enduring impact on the brain and behavior, with implications for stress reactivity, cognition, and social behavior. In particular, the neural systems that contribute to the expression of social behavior are altered by early life social environments. However, paradigms that have been used to alter the social environment during development have typically focused on exposure to stress, adversity, and deprivation of species-typical social stimulation. Here, we explore whether complex social environments can shape the development of complex social behavior. We describe lab-based paradigms for studying early life social complexity in rodents that are generally focused on enriching the social and sensory experiences of the neonatal and juvenile periods of development. The impact of these experiences on social behavior and neuroplasticity is highlighted. Finally, we discuss the degree to which our current approaches for studying social behavior outcomes give insight into "complex" social behavior and how social complexity can be better integrated into lab-based methodologies.

Effects of Family Socioeconomic Status and Educational Resources on Children’s Cognitive Ability Performance Based on Preschool Education Perspectives

Under the effects of rapid changes in current social environment and family, family structure gradually changes from past extended family and stem family to nuclear family for matching modern social environment. Preschool children’s learning is affected by school education as well as family education. When different family socioeconomic status would affect children’s cognitive ability to form the stratification of cognitive ability development, such a phenomenon is growing apart from the philosophy of equality of educational opportunity. Aiming at parents of children in preschool education units in china, as the research objects, total 360 copies of questionnaire are distributed, and 237 valid copies are retrieved, with the retrieval rate 66%. The research results are summarized as below. 1. Children with higher family socioeconomic status present better cognitive ability, explaining the actual effect of family socioeconomic status on current children’s cognitive ability to form educational stratification as well as unequal opportunity for preschool education. 2. The higher family socioeconomic status shows the richer family educational resources. It is therefore inferred that children with higher family socioeconomic status reveal better cognitive ability, possibly because of richer family educational resources allowing children receiving more cultural, social, or financial capital stimulation to enhance more cognitive ability. According to the result to proposed suggestions, it is expected to enhance domestic ideal of equality of preschool educational opportunity, allow domestic education parallel to various advanced countries, and achieve the responsibility for cultivating quality citizen in the future.

Time-motion observations to characterize the developmental environment in a paediatric post-acute care hospital.

Chronically hospitalized children are at risk for neurodevelopmental delay, compounded by restricted social interactions, movement and environmental stimulation. We measured patients' movements and interactions to characterize developmentally relevant aspects of our inpatient environment and identify opportunities for developmental enrichment. As part of a quality improvement initiative to inform neurodevelopmental programming for children with medical complexity at our paediatric post-acute care specialty hospital, we conducted >232 hours of time-motion observations. Trained observers followed 0- to 5-year-old inpatients from 7am to 7pm on weekdays, categorizing observations within five domains: Where, With, Position, State and Environment. Observations were collected continuously utilizing REDCap on iPads. A change in any domain initiated a new observation. Patients were median 1year and 8months of age (range 2months to 3years 9months) with a median length of hospitalization of 514 days (range 66-1298). In total, 2636 unique observations (or median 134 observations per patient-day [range 95-210]) were collected. Patients left their rooms up to 4 times per day for median 1h and 34 min (range 41 min to 4h:30 min). Patients spent 4h:6min (2h:57 min to 6h:30 min) interacting with someone and 3h:51 min (57 min to 6h:36 min) out of bed each day. Patients were simultaneously out of their beds, interacting with someone and awake for 2h:21 min (51 min to 4h:19 min) each day. Despite a care model prioritizing time out of bed and social interaction, time-motion observations indicate patients spent many of their waking hours in bed and alone. Quantifying our inpatients developmental opportunities will inform neurodevelopmental programming initiatives.

Parent-preferred childcare environment styles: A latent class analysis and association with parental stress

In recent years, child-rearing dimensions have been widely used as predictor variables. However, they are rarely examined as outcomes. Moreover, little is known about what constitutes good parenting. We aimed to identify the potential groups related to parents’ childcare environment preferences and examine its association with parental stress. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in government-licensed childcare centers among families with children aged 3–5 years across Japan. We investigated the childcare environment based on five dimensions—human stimulation, social stimulation, avoidance of restriction, parent cooperation, and social support—and sources of high parental stress, including childcare, health status, relationships, work, and others. The potential childcare environment groups were explored using latent class analysis. The relationship between parental stress and childcare environment was analyzed using a chi-square test and logistic regression model. Moreover, data from 928 families were collected and used for the analysis. Two latent class models were identified: a favorable childcare environment with high parent cooperation (F-H; probability = 76.4 %) and moderate childcare environment with low parent cooperation (M-L; probability = 23.6 %). High stress from childcare, health status, relationships, work, and other stressors were significantly related to M-L. Knowing the results would add evidence to childcare practice.

Development and Validation of Four Social Scales for the UX Evaluation of Interactive Products

The social dimension of interactive products covers all aspects of our relationships with others that are impacted by owning and using such products. Although social features are making their way into a growing number of interactive products, there is a lack of an evaluation tool to capture the social dimension of the user experience (UX). This study addressed this shortcoming by developing and validating new social scales based on the UEQ + framework. We developed four social scales to encompass various aspects within the social dimension. For scale development, 229 participants rated their UX with products having social aspects. Exploratory factor analysis allowed us to identify four sub-dimensions (Identification, Social interaction, Social stimulation, and Social acceptance), each evaluated with four items. For scale validation, 450 participants evaluated the UX of three product categories, using the new social scales, AttrakDiff, and the six UX dimensions of UEQ+. Results of MANOVA showed that the social scales discriminated the three categories (F (8, 560) = 20.68, p < 0.001, Pillai’s trace = 0.456). The four social scales developed in this study can be combined with other UX dimensions of the UEQ + modular framework to provide a comprehensive overview of user interaction with products.

Environmental enrichment accelerates the acquisition of schedule-induced drinking in rats

Environmental enrichment (EE) provides an improvement in the housing conditions of experimental animals, such as laboratory rats, with greater physical and social stimulation through toys and company in the home cages. Its use is known to influence performance of experimental protocols, but these effects have not been well determined in the schedule-induced drinking (SID) procedure. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of EE on the acquisition of SID in 24 12-week-old male Wistar rats, divided into two groups, a group with EE housed with toys and companions, and a group without enrichment in individual housing conditions without toys (social isolation and no environmental enrichment, INEE). A total of 25 sessions, under a fixed time 30 s food reinforcement schedule and with access to water in the experimental chambers were carried out. Sessions lasted 30 min. The results showed that the EE group developed faster the excessive drinking pattern of SID, and drank to higher levels, than the INEE group. The greater development of SID in the EE group contradicts the view of schedule-induced behavior as linked to stress reduction and better suits with the conception of induction related to positive reinforcement.

Social experience influences thermal sensitivity: lessons from an amphibious mangrove fish.

Understanding the factors affecting the capacity of ectothermic fishes to cope with warming temperature is critical given predicted climate change scenarios. We know that a fish's social environment introduces plasticity in how it responds to high temperature. However, the magnitude of this plasticity and the mechanisms underlying socially modulated thermal responses are unknown. Using the amphibious hermaphroditic mangrove rivulus fish Kryptolebias marmoratus as a model, we tested three hypotheses: (1) social stimulation affects physiological and behavioural thermal responses of isogenic lineages of fish; (2) social experience and acute social stimulation result in distinct physiological and behavioural responses; and (3) a desensitization of thermal receptors is responsible for socially modulated thermal responses. To test the first two hypotheses, we measured the temperature at which fish emerged from the water (i.e. pejus temperature) upon acute warming with socially naive isolated fish and with fish that were raised alone and then given a short social experience prior to exposure to increasing temperature (i.e. socially experienced fish). Our results did not support our first hypothesis as fish socially stimulated by mirrors during warming (i.e. acute social stimulation) emerged at similar temperatures to isolated fish. However, in support of our second hypothesis, a short period of prior social experience resulted in fish emerging at a higher temperature than socially naive fish suggesting an increase in pejus temperature with social experience. To test our third hypothesis, we exposed fish that had been allowed a brief social interaction and naive fish to capsaicin, an agonist of TRPV1 thermal receptors. Socially experienced fish emerged at significantly higher capsaicin concentrations than socially naive fish suggesting a desensitization of their TRPV1 thermal receptors. Collectively, our data indicate that past and present social experiences impact the behavioural response of fish to high temperature. We also provide novel data suggesting that brief periods of social experience affect the capacity of fish to perceive warm temperature.

Neuroprotection in metabolic syndrome by environmental enrichment. A lifespan perspective.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined by the concurrence of different metabolic conditions: obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia. Its incidence has been increasingly rising over the past decades and has become a global health problem. MetS has deleterious consequences on the central nervous system (CNS) and neurological development. MetS can last several years or be lifelong, affecting the CNS in different ways and treatments can help manage condition, though there is no known cure. The early childhood years are extremely important in neurodevelopment, which extends beyond, encompassing a lifetime. Neuroplastic changes take place all life through - childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age - are highly sensitive to environmental input. Environmental factors have an important role in the etiopathogenesis and treatment of MetS, so environmental enrichment (EE) stands as a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach. While the EE paradigm has been designed for animal housing, its principles can be and actually are applied in cognitive, sensory, social, and physical stimulation programs for humans. Here, we briefly review the central milestones in neurodevelopment at each life stage, along with the research studies carried out on how MetS affects neurodevelopment at each life stage and the contributions that EE models can provide to improve health over the lifespan.

Evidence accumulation rate moderates the relationship between enriched environment exposure and age-related response speed declines.

Older adults exposed to enriched environments (EE) maintain relatively higher levels of cognitive function, even in the face of compromised markers of brain health. Response speed (RS) is often used as a simple proxy to measure the preservation of global cognitive function in older adults. However, it is unknown which specific selection, decision, and/or motor processes provide the most specific indices of neurocognitive health. Here, using a simple decision task with electroencephalography (EEG), we found that the efficiency with which an individual accumulates sensory evidence was a critical determinant of the extent to which RS was preserved in older adults (63% female, 37% male). Moreover, the mitigating influence of EE on age-related RS declines was most pronounced when evidence accumulation rates were shallowest. These results suggest that the phenomenon of cognitive reserve, whereby high EE individuals can better tolerate suboptimal brain health to facilitate the preservation of cognitive function, is not just applicable to neuroanatomical indicators of brain ageing, but can be observed in markers of neurophysiology. Our results suggest that EEG metrics of evidence accumulation may index neurocognitive vulnerability of the ageing brain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT:Response speed in older adults is closely linked with trajectories of cognitive ageing. Here, by recording brain activity while individuals perform a simple computer task, we identify a neural metric which is a critical determinant of response speed. Older adults exposed to greater cognitive and social stimulation throughout a lifetime could maintain faster responding, even when this neural metric was impaired. This work suggests EEG is a useful technique for interrogating how a lifetime of stimulation benefits brain health in ageing.

Assessment of COVID-19 lockdown effect on early Alzheimer Disease progression.

Recently, many aspects of daily life have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with Alzheimer Disease (AD) could be more vulnerable to those daily life changes as experts expected. Mainly, the lockdown involved reduced social contact and cognitive stimulation. So, it could affect the AD expression, increasing the patients' disabilities development. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on cognitive impairment progression in early AD patients. The participants were patients with mild cognitive impairment due to AD (MCI-AD) from the Neurology Unit (La Fe Hospital), who were neuropsychologically evaluated (cognitive impairment, daily activity tests) twice over 2 years. They were classified into a case group (n = 21), evaluated before and after lockdown condition, and a control group (n = 20), evaluated entirely before the lockdown condition. All the participants showed increasing cognitive impairment and functional deterioration over the 2-year period of evaluation (p < 0.05). However, a faster worsening was not observed as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown condition. In fact, the statistical significance observed between the two study groups for daily life activities showed that the worsening was even lesser in the group evaluated under the lockdown condition. Medium-term effects of COVID-19 lockdown could not involve an acceleration of the cognitive decline in MCI-AD patients in a 2-year evaluation period. In addition, the least worsening observed for daily living activities in the case group was probably due to the change in routines. Therefore, the common assumption of cognitive worsening of AD progression due to the lockdown in comparison with normal disease progression was not demonstrated in this study, at least for MCI-AD cases. However, more longitudinal studies are required to evaluate long-term effects in these patients.

"InMotion"-Mixed physical exercise program with creative movement as an intervention for adults with schizophrenia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Schizophrenia is among the world's top 10 causes of long-term disability with symptoms that lead to major problems in social and occupational functioning, and in self-care. Therefore, it is important to investigate the efficacy of complementary treatment options for conventionally used antipsychotic medication, such as physical training, and psychosocial interventions. To combine aerobic and strength training with cognitive, emotional and social stimulation in one intervention for people with schizophrenia and test the feasibility and effects of this intervention. The study is a mixed-method randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of a 12-week intervention for adults with schizophrenia. The treatment group (30 participants) will receive the intervention in addition to standard care and the control group (30 participants) only standard care. The intervention consists of 24 biweekly sessions with a duration of 60 min. The pre-test (weeks from 4 to 2 prior to the intervention) and post-test (week 12) include clinical measure (PANSS), quality of life, social performance, movement quantity, brain function and eye tracking measures. In addition, a treatment subgroup of 12-15 participants and their family member or other next of kin will complete a qualitative interview as a part of their post-test. Two follow-up tests, including clinical, quality of life, brain function and eye tracking will be made at 6 and 12 months from the completion of the intervention to both study groups. The primary outcome is change in negative symptoms. Secondary outcome measures include general and positive symptoms, quality of life, social performance, movement quantity, brain function and eye tracking. Explorative outcome includes patient and family member or other next of kin interview. Pilot data was collected by June 2023 and the main data collection will begin in September 2023. The final follow-up is anticipated to be completed by 2026. The InMotion study will provide new knowledge on the feasibility, efficacy, and experiences of a novel intervention for adults with schizophrenia. The hypothesis is that regular participation in the intervention will reduce clinical symptoms, normalize physiological measures such as brain activation, and contribute to new active habits for the participants. ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05673941.

Commentary: Cognitive stimulation and executive functions in the prevention and treatment of childhood disorders - reflection on Phillips etal., 2023.

The study by Phillips etal. (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2023) shows that preschool executive functions (EF) are a transdiagnostic mechanism through which deprivation increases the risk for psychopathology in adolescence. In addition, deprivation appeared to be a key mechanism through which economic adversity (i.e., lower income-to-needs ratio and maternal education) undermines EF and increases the risk for psychopathology in adolescence. In this commentary, implications for early prevention and treatment of childhood disorders are discussed. In view of optimal EF development attention is needed to cognitive and social stimulation both in: (a) selective prevention targeting preschool children at high risk for childhood disorders due to low socioeconomic status; (b) indicated prevention targeting preschool children with minimal but detectable symptoms from low socioeconomic status families; and (c) treatment targeting preschool children with a clinical disorder from low socioeconomic status families.

Analysis of the influences of social isolation on cognition and the therapeutic potential of deep brain stimulation in a mouse model.

Social interaction is a fundamental human need. Social isolation (SI) can have negative effects on both emotional and cognitive function. However, it is currently unclear how age and the duration of SI affect emotion and recognition function. In addition, there is no specific treatment for the effects of SI. The adolescence or adult mice were individually housed in cages for 1, 6 or 12 months and for 2 months to estabolish SI mouse model. We investigated the effects of SI on behavior in mice at different ages and under distinct durations of SI, and we explored the possible underlying mechanisms. Then we performed deep brain stimulation (DBS) to evaluate its influences on SI induced behavioral abnormalities. We found that social recognition was affected in the short term, while social preference was damaged by extremely long periods of SI. In addition to affecting social memory, SI also affects emotion, short-term spatial ability and learning willingness in mice. Myelin was decreased significantly in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and dorsal hippocampus of socially isolated mice. Cellular activity in response to social stimulation in both areas was impaired by social isolation. By stimulating the mPFC using DBS, we found that DBS alleviated cellular activation disorders in the mPFC after long-term SI and improved social preference in mice. Our results suggest that the therapeutic potential of stimulating the mPFC with DBS in individuals with social preference deficits caused by long-term social isolation, as well as the effects of DBS on the cellular activity and density of OPCs.

Neighbors Matter: An Investigation into Intergroup Interactions Affecting the Social Networks of Adjacent Chimpanzee Groups

Wild chimpanzees live in large and complex social communities, but their complexity is determined by the number of potential social partners as well as the frequent changes in group composition due to fission–fusion dynamics. Alternatively, captive housed chimpanzee groups are usually much smaller and less complex. However, studies have shown that groups can be housed in adjacent habitats, potentially increasing the number of social partners, i.e., granting additional relationship opportunities and enhanced social complexity. While most social network studies analyze social groups as closed systems, this study assessed the impact of social interactions between two neighboring groups of chimpanzees, based on two social network indices (Vertex strength centrality and Deviation from edge weight disparity). Furthermore, Linear Mixed Models (LMMs) were employed to assess whether gender, age, and intra-/intergroup directionality influenced these indices. We recorded occurrences of social behaviors, social proximity and whether chimpanzees observed individuals in the other group as a measure of interest. Most social behaviors were directed towards group members; however, 13% were directed towards the neighboring group. Although enclosure barriers constrained the chimpanzee’s capacity to physically interact, it does not necessarily impede social interactions with the outside world. Hence, the presence of neighboring chimpanzees potentially provides additional relationship opportunities, increasing social stimulation and complexity leading to an enriching social environment.

A scoping review of social media use as a form of engagement among people with dementia

AbstractBackgroundThere are an estimated 50 million adults living with dementia worldwide, a number that is projected to triple by 2050 (Patterson, 2018). Because there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, maintaining and supporting quality life are among the most important care targets. Engagement in meaningful and purposeful activities is a cornerstone of quality of life, however opportunities for participation in meaningful activities can be limited for people with dementia (Wenborn et al., 2008). Although social media has the potential to be a source of engagement and connectivity for people with dementia, there is little known about the impacts of social media use on engagement‐related outcomes in people with dementia.MethodTwo databases (PubMed and PsychINFO) were searched from 2000 through November 12st, 2021 for English‐language articles with search terms relating to dementia and social media in the title. The search returned 23 articles after removal of duplicates with 7 selected for inclusion into the review.ResultAlthough there has been an increase in the scholarly exploration of using social media as a tool or raising awareness about dementia and providing a space for connection for carers, there is little research examining social media use in people with dementia. The research that does exist has primarily explored Twitter use and people with early‐onset dementia. Themes that emerged from the articles reviewed included 1) social media use as a tool to counter loss of identity, 2) social media as a forum for support following a diagnosis, 3) a need for greater accessibility, 4) the presence and lack of consideration regarding safety and privacy risks, and 5) dementia activism as a source of engagement and purpose.ConclusionThe potential for social media to be a tool for social engagement for people living with dementia is relatively unexplored as are the considerations for safety and privacy. There is a need to more broadly understand the patterns and context of social media use among people with dementia. There are also opportunities for interventions using social media as a pathway to intergenerational and social connection, meaningful engagement, and cognitive stimulation.