CANBERRA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Living in a large household and maintaining family ties could slow the progression of dementia, according to an Australian research released on Friday.
In a global study, a team from the University of Adelaide analyzed variables in living standards for people aged over 60 from more than 180 countries and regions.
They found that people living in large households or with families were significantly less likely to develop -- and die from -- dementia than those living alone regardless of other factors such as age and urbanization.
Maciej Henneberg, senior author of the study, said the research proved there were practical benefits to humans living in communities.
"We are one of the few species that have adapted over thousands of years to rely on extended family groupings from cooperative breeding, and then evolved alloparental care, until shaped for flourishing in small communities," he said in a media release.
"There are usually regular mealtimes, there is conversation, people to check to see if you have taken your medications, and family members encouraging regular activity.
"That engagement, when it is positive, stimulates the production of oxytocin, often dubbed the happiness hormone, and that has been shown to have a positive effect on physiological wellbeing by protecting cardio-vascular systems associated with vascular dementia and may exert a beneficial slow-down on dementia development."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 55 million people around the world are living with dementia, with Alzheimer's disease accounting for up to 70 percent of cases.
It is the seventh-leading cause of death worldwide and has an estimated global cost of 1.1 trillion Australian dollars (about 0.8 trillion U.S. dollars).
You Wenpeng, a researcher on the study, said it could have a significant impact on how dementia is treated.
"It's a significant finding in informing how we plan care and living services for people as they age, because it shows that human factors --relationships, a sense of connection and purpose, encouragement and praise, meaningful engagement with others -- are all quite important in combatting the progress of dementia," he said. ■