The study suggests that loneliness leads to cognitive impairment and can lead to a shorter life
Some people may not mind spending time alone, but new research based on data from 18 countries suggests that older people who are lonely – rather than alone – may experience faster mental and physical decline.
The study, led by the University of California, Davis, used advanced statistical models to map loneliness and social isolation as older adults go through stages of cognitive impairment and mortality. The results suggest that loneliness plays a much stronger role in cognitive impairment and shorter life spans than social isolation alone.
“Loneliness is a perception,” said Tomiko Yoneda, an assistant professor of psychology at UC Davis and lead author of the study. “You can be surrounded by a crowd of people and still feel lonely, whereas solitude is just being alone. Some people may not feel lonely at all and be completely content with their solitude.”
the The study was published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology June 15.
Modeling people’s lives
The team’s statistical models tested the effects of loneliness and social isolation, together and separately, on transitions between different states of cognitive impairment through the end of people’s lives.
“This approach is crucial, because cognitive impairment increases the risk of death, and both risks increase with age,” Yoneda said.
Yoneda led a team of 24 researchers who analyzed data from 175,000 participants over the age of 50. Participants reported how often they felt lonely as well as how often they had contact with others.
The analysis found that loneliness was consistently associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and a shorter life, even after social isolation was taken into account. Social isolation per se was not consistently associated with cognitive decline, and had only a weak association with shorter life.
A 10% increase in reports of loneliness was associated with an 8% to 9% increase in the risk of developing severe cognitive impairment and going from no impairment to mild cognitive function impairment.
Reporting feeling lonely more frequently was also associated with a 3% lower likelihood of reverting from mild cognitive impairment to no impairment. This suggests that alleviating loneliness may be important for recovery, the researchers said. The researchers said high loneliness was the most consistent risk early in life, even before measurable cognitive decline appeared.
The author supervising the study said: “Loneliness may be more evident in the early stages of cognitive impairment, but it is also a risk factor after the impairment develops.” Eileen K. Grahamassociate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University. “Lonelier individuals may be more likely to progress to more severe stages and less likely to recover.”
Reduce feelings of loneliness
The researchers said that finding ways to reduce loneliness, which would mitigate its effects on cognitive impairment, could reduce the costs associated with caring for individuals with dementia and other cognitive diseases.
They also said that individuals who are concerned about cognitive decline can make efforts to strengthen their social connections with people around them. For example, hospitals and care organizations could incorporate screening tools that identify loneliness. Communities can create opportunities for older adults to connect with others and build a sense of belonging.
Additional co-authors include Emory Beck, assistant professor of psychology at UC Davis; In addition to researchers representing the University of Southern California, Auburn University, UC Riverside, University College London, West Virginia University, University of Limerick, Rush University Medical Center, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Cornell University.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
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