A massive study has been published that suggests having feelings of loneliness are highly associated with a person’s chance of developing dementia, which is particularly common in the elderly. The research analyzed data on over 600,000 people in their natural environment across the globe.
The largest meta-analysis of its kind, the meta-analysis of 21
longitudinal studies found that persistent feelings of loneliness may be associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The findings indicate that when other dementia risk factors, such as genetics and lifestyle, are considered, those who experience chronic loneliness are more likely to develop dementia.
According to the research, loneliness-related stress may hasten neurodegenerative processes, which could account for the elevated risk. To stop or delay the onset of dementia, these interventions can concentrate on social health.
Dementia, which already affects millions of people globally, emphasizes how urgently social isolation among the elderly and elderly must be addressed. As part of the broader dementia prevention treatments, public health experts are promoting the evaluation of social support networks and community-based care that could lessen loneliness.
