A study published in eLife has indicated that social isolation may negatively impact cognitive performance and brain structure, potentially increasing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s dementia.
However, maintaining a robust social network with frequent contact can help to preserve brain health and structure.
About the Study
Researchers, led by Laurenz Lammer, a medical student at Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig and Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Germany, conducted a longitudinal study of 1335 cognitively healthy participants and followed up with 912 participants after six years.
The study used the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS) to measure the quality and quantity of participants’ social relationships.
High-resolution MRI scans were used to quantify brain structure and cognitive ability.
The researchers found a significant correlation between social isolation and a loss of gray matter in the hippocampus, which is critical for forming and retrieving memories.
They also found reduced thickness of the cortex, involved in higher brain functions like memory, learning, and emotional regulation.
Implications
Those experiencing high levels of social isolation showed even smaller hippocampal volume at follow-up. Those not at risk of social isolation typically did not live alone, were married, or gainfully employed.
The difference between having three or four close, supportive friends was compared to a one-year difference in hippocampal aging.
Participants who did not initially present a risk of social isolation but experienced increased social isolation later showed a decrease in hippocampal volume and cognitive decline.
This finding suggests that strategies to reduce social isolation may help maintain hippocampal integrity and prevent the onset of dementia.
Limitations and Further Research
The authors caution that further research is needed to determine whether the observed decline in cognitive performance was a result of the decrease in hippocampal volume.
The causal link between social isolation and cognitive decline also needs confirmation, as the observed findings could have arisen through reverse causation—those with accelerated brain aging could be more likely to become socially isolated.
Conclusion
Senior author Veronica Witte concludes that the study lends support to the view that social isolation is associated with accelerated brain aging and cognitive decline in adults in their middle to late years.
Their findings imply that social contact can help preserve brain structure and function, suggesting that strategies to reduce social isolation might help maintain brain health into old age and prevent conditions like Alzheimer’s dementia.
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The study was published in eLife.
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