The study found that loneliness is linked to worse memory performance in older people

Researchers from Colombia, Spain and Sweden analyzed data from more than 10,000 adults aged 65 to 94 across 12 European countries and found that those who reported higher levels of loneliness did worse globally. Memory tests At the beginning of the study, according to research published this month in the Journal of Aging and Mental Health.

However, over a seven-year period, memory decline occurred at a similar rate regardless of how lonely the participants felt.

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“The finding that loneliness significantly affects memory, but not the speed of memory decline over time, was a surprising result,” lead author Dr. Luis Carlos Venegas Sanabria of the Universidad del Rosario School of Medicine and Health Sciences said in a statement.

A new study suggests that loneliness may be linked to memory performance in older adults. (Istock)

“This suggests that loneliness may play a more prominent role in the initial state of memory than in its gradual decline,” Venegas-Sanabria said, adding that the findings highlight the importance of addressing loneliness as a factor in memory loss. Cognitive performance.

These findings add to the debate about whether loneliness contributes to dementia risk. While loneliness and social isolation are often considered risk factors for cognitive decline, research results have been mixed.

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The study looked at data from the long-term Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), which tracked 10,217 older people between 2012 and 2019. Participants were asked to recall the words immediately and after a delay to measure memory performance.

Social isolation and loneliness can play a surprising role in cognitive health among older adults. (Istock)

Loneliness was assessed using three questions about how often participants felt isolated, neglected, or lacking companionship.

About 8% of participants reported high levels of loneliness initially. This group tends to be older, more likely to be female, and more likely to suffer from conditions such as depression.

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The researchers found that those with higher feelings of loneliness had lower scores on immediate and delayed memory tests at baseline. However, all groups – regardless of level of loneliness – experienced similar declines in memory over time.

The findings suggest that loneliness may not directly accelerate the development of memory loss, although it remains linked to poorer cognitive performance overall.

Researchers are performing brain scans at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

However, experts caution that the results should not be interpreted to mean that loneliness is harmless.

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“Find out that Lonely elderly people “Starting with worse memory but not declining any faster is actually the most interesting part of the paper, and I think it’s easy to misread it,” said Jordan Weiss, Ph.D., scientific advisor and aging expert for Assisted Living Magazine and a professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

“This likely means that loneliness causes damage early in life, long before people in a study like this show up at age 65 or older,” Weiss told Fox News Digital.

Caucasian beautiful old lady grandma lady using tablet to surf social media, e-banking, e-commerce, check pension and mortgage loan online at home (Istock)

He noted that with age, long-term social patterns may have already been established, making it difficult to detect when the effects of loneliness first appeared.

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“By the time you measure someone in their late 60s, decades of socializing patterns have already been established,” he said.

Weiss, who was not involved in the research, added that loneliness may coincide with other health conditions, and noted that participants who felt more isolated also had High rates of depressionHigh blood pressure and diabetes. The association may reflect a range of health risks rather than a direct cause, he said.

The bill would cut “red tape” and allow seniors to socialize over drinks. (Istock)

Amy Morin, a Florida-based psychiatrist and author, said the findings reflect a broader pattern in research on loneliness and brain health, and that the relationship may be more complex than it seems.

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“Evidence shows that there is a link between loneliness and cognitive decline, but there is no direct evidence of a cause and effect relationship,” she said. “Although they go hand in hand, it is not clear that loneliness contributes to dementia.”

Morin added that loneliness, which can fluctuate, may not be the root of the problem, but rather a symptom of other underlying symptoms. Mental or physical health problems.

Under current Minnesota law, assisted living facilities face restrictions on serving alcoholic beverages during resident events. (Istock)

Staying socially and mentally connected is crucial to overall brain health, she said.

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“It’s important to be proactive about social activities,” Morin said. “Joining a book club, having coffee with a friend, or attending religious services can be a powerful way to maintain relationships into older age.”

The researchers also suggested incorporating loneliness screening into routine cognitive assessments as one method of support Healthy aging.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.