For most of my career, I've studied how our social environment shapes our health. I've spent decades researching stroke, brain health, and the powerful influence of the people in our lives. Early in my career, I became fascinated by a simple question: Why do some people recover better after neurological disease than others?
The answer wasn't found only in blood work or genetics. It was also found around the dinner table, in neighborhood friendships, and in the family members who showed up every day.
Today, the science is becoming increasingly clear. Strong social connections don't simply make us happier—they help protect our brains and prevent neurological illnesses.
Overcoming social isolation
One of the most important ways social networks improve brain health is by reducing chronic stress. Loneliness and social isolation increase stress hormones such as cortisol, which over time can contribute to high blood pressure, poor sleep, inflammation, and vascular disease—all well-established risk factors for stroke and cognitive decline. In contrast, meaningful relationships provide emotional support, encourage healthy behaviors, and give us practical help when we need it most.
But social networks do far more than offer companionship. They remind us to take medications. They encourage us to exercise. They notice subtle changes in our thinking or speech that we might ignore ourselves. They motivate us to keep medical appointments and make healthier choices. In many ways, our social network becomes an extension of our health care team.
My own research at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health has shown just how important those close relationships can be. In one study of more than 1,000 people who experienced a stroke, we examined whether different types of social networks influenced how quickly people sought emergency care.
We found that married people or those living with a partner were twice as likely to arrive at the emergency department within the critical three-hour treatment window than those without a partner. Interestingly, friendships and broader community connections did not have the same impact for this particular behavior, suggesting that the person who lives closest to you is often the first to recognize that something is wrong and insist that you seek immediate care.
That doesn't mean spouses or significant others are the only relationships that matter. Different kinds of social connections serve different purposes.
Building a social network
If your goal is exercising regularly, joining a walking group or finding a workout partner may be more valuable than relying on your spouse or significant other. If you're trying to eat healthier, friends who enjoy cooking nutritious meals can become powerful influences. Finding a healthy cooking class at your local park district, community center, grocery, or cooking supply store may introduce you to both exciting new meals and to new friends. If you have a neurological disease, your network may include family, neighbors, coworkers, faith communities, health care professionals, and support groups. Each person contributes something different.
I often describe social networks as having different functions. Some people provide companionship. Others offer emotional support. Some influence our health behaviors. Others help with practical needs like transportation or picking up prescriptions. The healthiest networks are rarely built around one person. They are built around many people sharing different roles.
That lesson became deeply personal for me. Two years ago, I lost my husband. We had moved across the country together to Southern California, and, like many couples, our lives revolved around each other. Suddenly, I found myself without the person who had always been my closest companion.
It forced me to ask whether I was living the advice I had spent years giving others. The answer, honestly, was no. I realized I needed to intentionally rebuild my own social network.
So I started small. Instead of rushing home after meetings, I stayed a little longer and invited someone to have coffee. I began hosting simple Sunday brunches. Nothing elaborate—bagels, cream cheese, maybe a quiche—but enough to gather people together. I invited acquaintances who weren't yet close friends. Sometimes I introduced people from completely different parts of my life who otherwise never would have met. Not every invitation turned into a lasting friendship, but many did.
