Loneliness has been found to negatively impact memory in older adults but not accelerate brain decline.
A major new study has found lonely people perform worse than others in initial memory tests but over a prolonged period their ability to recall information declined at a similar rate
The European longitudinal study tracked more 10,000 people aged 65 to 94 over seven years.
Lead study author Luis Carlos Venegas-Sanabria , from the Universidad del Rosario, described the findings as a “surprising outcome”.
“It suggests that loneliness may play a more prominent role in the initial state of memory than in its progressive decline,” he said.
“The study (still however) underscores the importance of addressing loneliness as a significant factor in the context of cognitive performance in older adults.”
Loneliness has become a significant public health issue due to its potential impact on longevity, mental and physical health, and wellbeing.
The research report said that the latest results added weight to the strong links between feeling lonely and brain function in older people.
However, they also reinforced the theory that isolation was not necessarily a risk factor for dementia.
“Study participants who reported high levels of loneliness performed worse on memory tests at the start of the research period,” the report said.
“However, the ability of lonely people to recall information declined at a similar rate over the timecourse monitored as that of participants who did not feel alone.”
The study report said that loneliness and social isolation were among the most relevant risk factors for dementia.
“However, data on the link between loneliness and cognitive function are inconsistent,” it said.
“Some studies suggest loneliness accelerates cognitive decline over time while others have found no significant link.”
More details on the study are available here
