News

There will be free flu shots on Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Eagleton Senior Center located at 1015 W. Royle Street in Richmond from 1-4 p.m. The Mid-America Regional Council and the Ray County Senior Center are sponsoring a flu clinic.

The University of Missouri (MU) Extension Office chose Emily Bergsieker, field specialist in 4-H Youth Development, as their “Extension Spotlight.” Bergsieker has worked with our county youth and adult volunteers as an MU Extension employee for four years.

Socialization in midlife can have a profound impact on individuals as they approach their golden years. A 2019 study led by researchers at University College London found that being more socially active in your 50s and 60s predicts a lower risk of developing dementia later in life. The study used data from a previous study that tracked more than 10,000 participants between 1985 and 2013. Participants in the study completed cognitive testing from 1997 onwards. Researchers found that someone who saw friends almost daily at age 60 was 12 percent less likely to develop dementia than someone who only saw one or two friends every month. Strong associations between social contact at age 50 and subsequent dementia were also uncovered. The study supports the idea that remaining socially active in one’s 50s and 60s can benefit long-term cognitive health.