Higher levels of socio-emotional well-being, including life satisfaction, finding meaning in life and strong social connections, are associated with better cognitive performance in older adults, according to a new study led by Assistant Professor Martina Luchetti, Ph.D. In contrast, loneliness is linked to poorer cognitive outcomes, highlighting the importance of emotional and social health in aging.

The study analyzed data from 2,650 adults with an average age of 76 who participated in the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol within the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Researchers examined how different dimensions of well-being relate to overall cognitive function and specific cognitive domains.

Findings showed that individuals with greater meaning in life, higher life satisfaction and stronger social connections performed better across cognitive measures. Loneliness, in contrast, was consistently associated with worse performance and greater decline. Meaning in life and loneliness showed the strongest relationships, even after accounting for known dementia risk factors such as chronic health conditions, physical inactivity and depressive symptoms.

Overall, the results suggest that socio-emotional well-being is an important and potentially modifiable factor in cognitive aging. These associations were largely consistent across age, sex, education and depression status, though some domain-specific differences emerged. The findings support continued efforts to develop interventions that enhance social and psychological well-being as a strategy to help preserve cognitive health and reduce dementia risk.