In a new study from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, researchers found a strong link between loneliness and dementia risk.
They found a three-fold increase in the risk of subsequent dementia among lonely Americans younger than 80 years old who would otherwise be expected to have a relatively low risk based on age and genetic risk factors.
They also found that loneliness was linked to poorer executive function (i.e., a group of cognitive processes including decision-making, planning, cognitive flexibility, and control of attention) and changes in the brain that indicate vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).
This study emphasizes the importance of loneliness and issues of social connection in addressing our risk of developing dementia as people age.
Dementia affects more than 6.2 million adults in the United States, according to a 2021 special report by the Alzheimer’s Association.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, feelings of loneliness have affected an estimated 46 million Americans, and more frequent feelings of loneliness were found in adults aged 60 and older.
In the study, the researchers reviewed 2,308 participants who were dementia-free at baseline, with an average age of 73.
Overall, 144 of the 2,308 participants reported feeling lonely three or more days in the past week.
The study population was assessed over a decade for dementia.
The team found younger participants aged 60 to 79 who were lonely were more than twice as likely to develop dementia.
Loneliness was linked to a three-fold increased risk among younger participants who did not carry the APOE ε4 allele.
Additional findings showed that loneliness was related to poorer executive function, lower total cerebral volume, and greater white-matter injury, which are indicators of vulnerability for cognitive decline.
The team suggests that people acknowledge signs of loneliness in themselves and others, build and maintain supportive relationships, provide much-needed support for the people in our lives who are feeling lonely.
If you care about dementia risk, please read studies about the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and how to stop dementia from nose.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about common foods that could sharp your brain, and results showing this supplement may boost brain function in obesity.
The study is published in Neurology and was conducted by Joel Salinas et al.
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