How social distancing during a pandemic affects the elderly in rural South Africa
Socializing is essential for brain health in the elderly in rural South Africa—has lockdown affected their cognitive function?
A Wits study found that older people with cognitive impairment reported smaller social networks and less frequent communication with others.
Cognition refers to processes of the brain that allows us to learn, remember and make decisions.
The findings are particularly relevant as 1 October marks the United Nations International Day of Older Persons.
“South Africa is emerging from arguably one of the strictest lockdown responses to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. We know that COVID-19, the disease that made