Are loneliness and social isolation associated with cognitive decline?

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to examine the association of loneliness and social isolation on cognition over a 3‐year follow‐up period in middle‐ and older‐aged adults. Methods Data from a Spanish nationally representative sample were analyzed (n = 1691; aged 50 years or older). Loneliness, social isolation, and cognition (immediate recall, delayed recall, verbal fluency, forward digit span, backward digit span, and a composite cognitive score) were assessed both at baseline and at follow‐up. Adjusted generalized estimating equations models were performed. Results Loneliness was significantly associated with lower scores in the composite cognitive score, immediate and delayed recall, verbal fluency, and backward digit span (B = −0.14 to B = −3.16; P < .05) and with a more rapid decline from baseline to follow‐up in two out of six cognitive tests. Higher social isolation was associated with lower scores in the composite cognitive score, verbal fluency, and forward digit span (B = −0.06 to B = −0.85; P < .05). The effect of loneliness and social isolation on cognition remained significant after the exclusion of individuals with depression. Conclusions Both loneliness and social isolation are associated with decreased cognitive function over a 3‐year follow‐up period. The development of interventions that include the enhancement of social participation and the maintenance of emotionally supportive relationships might contribute to cognitive decline prevention and risk reduction.

Associations of Social Isolation with Anxiety and Depression During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Older Adults in London, UK

“…Long periods of social isolation may have a profound negative effect on mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia ( 8 ), may differ as a function of sex and age ( 5 ), and may worsen health inequalities, with poorer and marginalized groups at greatest risk ( 9 ). Furthermore, social isolation, loneliness and depression have, in turn, been associated with cognitive decline ( 10 , 11 ) and incident dementia ( 12 , 13 ) among older people.…”

The Impact of COVID-19 Infection and Enforced Prolonged Social Isolation on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Older Adults With and Without Dementia: A Review

“…The mental well-being of people with dementia who are socially isolating is also considered to be at extremely high risk and a thorough clinical management of this population is regarded as a top priority, especially for those living in care homes, since up to 98% of them present with neuropsychiatric symptoms (6,7). In fact, a significant association between social isolation and both mental health (8) and levels of cognitive abilities (9) has already been observed in older adults and appears to be mediated by loneliness, i.e., the subjective perception of social isolation. Moreover, greater loneliness has also been found to be significantly associated with reduced brain volume in areas in the left medial temporal lobe involved in memory and harshly affected by AD (10).…”

Perceived social isolation and cognitive functioning. Longitudinal findings based on the German Ageing Survey

“…4 An association between social isolation and cognitive functioning has been demonstrated by recent cross-sectional 5 and longitudinal studies. 6,7 For example, it has been shown that social isolation is related to decreased cognitive function based on data from a A recent systematic review on the longitudinal association between social isolation and cognitive functioning showed that these factors are weakly associated. 8 However, most of these longitudinal studies focused on social network and social activities without using standardized instruments (eg, using living alone as a surrogate for social isolation).…”