Loneliness can affect the brain and increase the risk of dementia in older people

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Data indicate that a long-term feeling of loneliness has a detrimental effect on health. How does this feeling turn into a disease? Feelings of social isolation can contribute to unhealthy behaviors, such as too little exercise, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking.

Loneliness can affect brain health and mental acuity

Older people who are socially isolated or feel lonely also tend to do worse on tests of mental ability, especially when it comes to processing information quickly. And those who feel lonely show a faster decline in performance on the same tests over several years of subsequent tests.

Loneliness is thought to contribute to cognitive decline for several reasons, including lack of physical activity, depressive symptoms, poor sleep, increased blood pressure and inflammation.

Loneliness has also been found to increase the risk of developing dementia by as much as 20 %. In fact, loneliness has effects similar to those of other known risk factors for dementia, such as diabetes, hypertension, lack of physical activity, and hearing loss.

How Loneliness Can Contribute to Disease Development

Loneliness is also an important factor of social stress, which can activate the body's stress reactions. If continued, this response can lead to increased inflammation and decreased immunity, especially in older adults.

Coping Strategies

Instead of focusing on what is not possible at the moment, try to refocus your attention on what you can do to stay connected and make a plan of action. This might include making plans to catch up with friends or family, or trying to do new things at home that you don't normally have time for, like online classes or book clubs.