As study of 600,000 people worldwide found loneliness was linked to a 31% rise in the likelihood that a person would go on to develop any form of dementia. Loneliness also raised the chances of cognitive impairment in people by 15%.
https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2024/10/10/5391728579179/
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A new study finds persistent loneliness taking a toll on aging brains and significantly raising a person’s odds for dementia.
Research funded by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health tracked self-reports of loneliness and the neurological health of more than 600,000 people worldwide.
The study found loneliness was linked to a 31% rise in the likelihood that a person would go on to develop any form of dementia. Loneliness also raised the chances of cognitive impairment in people by 15%.
According to study co-author Dr Páraic Ó Súilleabháin, of the University of Limerick, in Ireland, “These are very important findings and indicate that loneliness is a critically important risk factor in the future development of dementia.”
[https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-024-00328-9](https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-024-00328-9)
We really can’t get a break, huh?
How do you even measure “loneliness”?
Kinda scary to think about! Let’s all be a little kinder and more connected.
What confounding factors were taken into consideration? I have an…uh friend… who’s pretty lonely, but the reality is a life of health problems and subsequent depressing outlook on life has caused a bit of a drift away from social contacts?