I’m currently in Newcastle upon Tyne. It’s so nice to come back here, where I started medical school 30 years ago!

I am here for the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine annual conference, and am excited to give my talk about Sleep & Migraines today – please come say hello to me if you’re here!

Coming to Newcastle made me reflect on the importance of friendships.

Medical school and postgraduate training was stressful. And, what really helped were meaningful friendships.

📍How are friendships relevant for your brain health?

🌟1️⃣ Improve cognitive function

Studies show that people with strong social networks tend to have better memory and cognitive skills as they age.

Social interaction stimulates various parts of the brain, keeping it active and potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline.

🌟2️⃣ Stress reduction

Close friendships help lower stress levels by providing emotional support and a sense of belonging.

Managing stress is important, as chronic stress can negatively impact memory and cognitive performance.

When you surround yourself with friends who have a positive outlook and healthy coping mechanisms, you’re more likely to adopt these beneficial traits yourself.

This is also relevant for adopting other brain-healthy habits!

🌟3️⃣ Healthy habits

I recall this quotation, often attributed to Jim Rohn

”You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

— a reminder of how friendships and relationships can influence our personal growth and cognitive wellbeing.

📍Question for you today

Which friend would you like to reach out to today? ❤️

Wishing you happy connections,

Dr Sui Wong