ByTony Bradley,
Senior Contributor.
Most people think brain health comes down to diet, exercise, genetics, and maybe a few crossword puzzles. It’s the familiar checklist we’ve all grown up with: eat better, sleep more, keep your mind active. Those things matter, but new research is pointing to something far more human — and far easier to overlook. The strength of your relationships, and the depth of your social world, may influence your long-term cognitive health as much as any supplement or workout plan.
National Geographic’s new special, Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip To Remember, featuring Chris Hemsworth and his father, Craig, brings that idea into sharp focus. What begins as a personal journey — a father and son revisiting meaningful places after Craig’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis — becomes a lens into the emerging science of social connection. And it raises an important question: if connection itself is protective, why haven’t we treated it like a core part of health?
I recently sat down with Dr. Suraj Samtani, a respected lecturer and researcher on how social connections and broader social contexts shape cognitive ageing, mental health, and mortality risk in later life — and a consultant for the documentary — to talk about the science behind that nostalgia and why it matters.
