Loneliness increases the risk of dementia by 31%, research shows

Loneliness increases the risk of dementia by 31%

A new study shows that persistent loneliness takes its toll on the aging brain and significantly increases the risk of dementia.

The study tracked self-reports of loneliness and neurological health from more than 600,000 people worldwide.

The study found that loneliness was linked to a 31% increase in the likelihood of someone developing a form of dementia. Loneliness also increased people’s risk of cognitive impairment by 15%.

According to study co-author, Dr. Páraic Ó Súilleabháin, from the University of Limerick, in Ireland: “These are very important findings and indicate that loneliness is an extremely important risk factor in the future development of dementia.”

The study was published Oct. 9 in the journal Nature mental health.

In 2023, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy a report about loneliness and isolation among Americans, labeling it an “epidemic.” The effects of loneliness on physical and mental health are already known.

“Our laboratory has found that loneliness is critical to future health in several ways, including our longevity – that is, how long we live,” says Ó Súilleabháin, who leads the Personality, Individual Differences and Biobehavioral Health Laboratory at the Irish University.

“Loneliness is critical for cognitive health, in that loneliness leads to the future development of dementia, vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and more general cognitive impairment,” he explained.

He called the new study “a very important investigation that will have far-reaching consequences.”

The study was led by Dr. Martina Luchetti, of the College of Medicine at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

In the University of Limerick press release, she said there could be one silver lining from the research: loneliness is a risk factor that can be changed.

“There are different types and sources of loneliness that can influence cognitive symptoms across the dementia continuum,” Luchetti said. “Tackling loneliness and promoting a sense of connection may be protective for cognitive health later in life.”

More information:
Martina Luchetti et al., A meta-analysis of loneliness and dementia risk using longitudinal data from >600,000 individuals, Nature mental health (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s44220-024-00328-9

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