Unity in childhood .. a hidden imprint that may open the door to dementia in old age

Many parents view the isolation of their children as just a passing stage or temporary behavior that can be overcome over time, but recent studies reveal that the matter is much more complex, and that unity in the early years of life has extended effects that may accompany a person for decades.

A recent international study published by the “American Medicine Association” warned that unity in childhood is not limited to its effects on that age stage only, but rather is linked to a faster decline in cognitive capabilities and an increase in the risk of dementia in the middle of life and beyond.

A fixed relationship despite the change of circumstances

The researchers pointed out that the relationship between the early unit and the decline in cognitive abilities remained even after taking into account the level of unity in puberty, and even among the participants who were not later reported to a sense of social isolation.
In other words, the child who suffered from loneliness, even if he became an open social adult, remains more vulnerable to cognitive problems compared to others.

How does the unit leave its mark on the brain?

The research team indicated that the effects of unity in childhood are not limited to the psychological side, but also extend to deep biological factors, including:
Chronic psychological stress that raises the levels of inflammation in the body and negatively affects the health of the brain.
Weakness of building social and cognitive skills during the growth years, which reduces what is known as “cognitive reservation”, that is, the brain’s ability to compensate when aging.
Disorder of sleep patterns and hormones at an early age, which is reflected in cognitive functions in later stages.

Results based on wide data

The study was based on data about 13,500 participants collected between 2011 and 2018 as part of the “Chinese, longitudinal and retirement” study. The research team emphasized that the absence of effective treatments to slow down the development of dementia makes it necessary to identify early and adjustable risk factors, with the aim of developing preventive strategies that limit the burden of the disease.

The responsibility of the family and the school

These results put the family and the school in front of a pivotal role in prevention, as the researchers stress:
Encouraging children to make friendships from a young age and avoid leaving them in long isolation.
Promote group activities in the ranks to develop social interaction skills.
Monitor early signs of isolation or withdrawal and rapid intervention with psychological and social support.
Increase children in community and sports activities that enhance their sense of belonging.

The researchers concluded that unity in childhood is an independent risk factor for the decline in mental capabilities and dementia in later stages, which makes treating the phenomenon early an urgent necessity for mental and mental health in the long term.

Researchers from Capital Medical University in Beijing, La Trope University in Melbourne, the Boston University Faculty of Public Health, the Harvard University Faculty of Medicine, Edith Quan University and the University of Zejiang.