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Being alone isn't necessarily harmful, but feeling lonely may be. According to a new study, older adults who experience persistent loneliness may face a faster decline in both cognitive and physical health. The researchers found that loneliness remained strongly linked to poorer brain health and an increased risk of early death, regardless of how socially isolated a person was.
To examine the long-term effects of loneliness and social isolation, researchers used advanced statistical modeling on data from more than 175,000 adults ages 50 and older in 18 countries. Participants answered questions about how often they felt lonely and how frequently they had contact with other people. Their medical records were then used to monitor changes in cognitive health over time, including progression from normal cognition to severe impairment, as well as mortality.
Researchers found that older adults who felt lonely were more likely to experience cognitive impairment and die earlier, regardless of how socially isolated they were. Social isolation alone was not consistently associated with cognitive decline and had only a weak relationship with mortality.
As feelings of loneliness increased, so did the risk of cognitive decline. Every 10% increase in reported loneliness was associated with an 8% to 9% greater likelihood of developing severe cognitive impairment or progressing from normal cognition to mild impairment. People who reported feeling lonelier were also 3% less likely to recover from mild cognitive impairment, highlighting the potential importance of addressing loneliness.
The results indicate that loneliness may be both an early sign of cognitive impairment and a factor that contributes to its progression. Older adults who reported greater loneliness were more likely to advance to more severe stages of cognitive decline and less likely to recover from mild impairment.
Addressing loneliness may benefit both individuals and society. Reducing feelings of loneliness could help lessen cognitive decline and potentially reduce the costs of caring for people with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. For those worried about maintaining their brain health, staying connected with family, friends, neighbors, and community groups may be a simple but valuable step.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Is My Loneliness Killing Me? Effects of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Transitions Between Cognitive Status Categories and Death
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