About a third of Canadians feel lonely, and a study from the University of Waterloo has found that loneliness has a more significant negative impact on memory than social isolation, though both are major risks for the aging population.
Loneliness is a subjective feeling of being alone, even in social settings. It is often linked to depression and increased stress hormones, which can impair memory.
The researchers at Waterloo examined the effects of loneliness and social isolation on memory in middle-aged and older adults over six years. They considered four combinations: being both lonely and socially isolated, being only socially isolated, being only lonely, and being neither.
“As we expected, people who were both socially isolated and lonely had the greatest decline in memory, which worsened over the six years,” said Ji Won Kang, the study’s lead author and a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Public Health Sciences at Waterloo.
“But we were surprised to find that loneliness alone had the second-greatest impact on memory, even though many studies focus on social isolation without considering loneliness.”
The study was a collaboration between the School of Public Health Sciences and the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Waterloo. The findings were published in the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.
People who are socially isolated but not lonely might still engage in activities that stimulate their brains, such as reading, playing games, and pursuing hobbies. These activities can improve memory and brain function, even without social interaction.
Kang hopes the research will highlight the need for community programs, especially for older adults who are both socially isolated and lonely, as they are at the highest risk of memory impairment.
“Older adults in the lonely category often have lower incomes and may face structural barriers and health conditions that prevent them from connecting to their communities,” she said.
“Solutions could include transportation or home-visit programs to address the societal issues that lead to their isolation.”
The study also identified those who are lonely but not socially isolated as the next priority, requiring a different approach.
“We need to understand what is causing their loneliness,” Kang said. “They might have social connections and close relationships, but perhaps their marriage is falling apart, and they would benefit from counseling.”
This research underscores the importance of addressing both loneliness and social isolation to improve memory and overall well-being in older adults.
Implementing community programs and providing targeted support could significantly enhance the quality of life for many aging Canadians.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Omega-3 fats and carotenoid supplements could improve memory.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
The research findings can be found in the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.
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