To be lonely is to be “destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship,” according to one dictionary definition. A recent meta-analysis examining data from over 600,000 people suggests that loneliness increases dementia risk. Those who reported feeling lonely were 31 percent more likely to develop dementia compared to those who didn’t, according to the findings.
Depression and social isolation were identified as underlying causes of loneliness. Loneliness is closely associated with depressive symptoms, which increase the risk for cognitive decline, the researchers wrote. “Feeling lonely is also related to reduced engagement in social activities and poor social interactions,” they wrote.
“It is plausible that reduced social participation reduces cognitive stimulation, leaving individuals who experience loneliness more vulnerable to cognitive decline.” “Dementia is [sic] spectrum, with neuropathological changes that start decades before clinical onset,” Luchetti said. “Loneliness—the dissatisfaction with social relationships—may impact how you are functioning cognitively, and in daily life.
” Stress response: “Chronic loneliness triggers prolonged stress, which raises levels of cortisol, a hormone that affects the brain’s cognitive functioning over time,” said Mayfield, author of “The Path Out of Loneliness.” “This chronic stress can lead to inflammation and damage areas like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which are essential for .