Age-Related Brain Changes Reduce Social Behaviors, New Study Finds

Recent research conducted by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has shed light on how aging impacts social engagement through changes in brain connectivity. The study, published in PLOS One, demonstrates that the natural alterations in the brain's intrinsic functional networks fully explain the decline in sociability often observed in older adults. Sociability, encompassing effective communication, emotional regulation, and social assertiveness, tends to diminish with age, especially in individuals who live alone and face increased risks of social isolation.

The investigation involved 196 healthy participants aged 20 to 77 who underwent resting-state functional MRI scans and completed questionnaires measuring sociability. Analysis revealed two distinct brain networks mediating the relationship between age and social behavior. The first, termed the age-positive network (APN), showed increased connectivity with age and was linked to lower sociability. This network primarily involved limbic-insular and ventral attention-somatomotor connections. Conversely, the age-negative network (ANN) displayed decreased connectivity as age increased, involving frontoparietal–default mode and subcortical–parietal regions, also associated with reduced sociability.

Mediation analysis confirmed that both networks independently mediated the relationship between aging and declining sociability. As individuals age, the strengthening of APN connectivity and the weakening of ANN connectivity contribute to lower social engagement. These changes in brain network connectivity can impair emotional regulation, communication skills, and confidence, leading to difficulties in initiating and maintaining social relationships.

Understanding these neurobiological processes aligns with the social brain hypothesis, suggesting age-related neural reorganization impacts social cognition. Recognizing this natural course of brain aging can inform psychoeducational strategies to help older adults and caregivers adapt strategies that support continued social participation and emotional well-being.

This research highlights the importance of addressing brain connectivity changes to mitigate social isolation in aging populations, fostering healthier and more connected later lives.