Loneliness impacts the memory performance of older adults but does not accelerate their mental decline over time, according to research published on April 14 in the journal Aging & Mental Health. The study analyzed data from more than 10,000 people aged 65 to 94 across Europe who were tracked for seven years.
The findings are significant as loneliness has become a major public health concern due to its effects on longevity and wellbeing. Understanding how feeling alone influences cognitive abilities can help guide future screening and intervention strategies for aging populations.
Researchers found that participants reporting high levels of loneliness performed worse on memory tests at the beginning of the study. However, their rate of memory decline over seven years was similar to those who did not feel lonely. The data came from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), which surveyed individuals from countries including Germany, Spain, Sweden, and Slovenia between 2012 and 2019.
Lead author Dr Luis Carlos Venegas-Sanabria from Universidad del Rosario said: "The finding that loneliness significantly impacted memory, but not the speed of decline in memory over time was a surprising outcome." He added: "It suggests that loneliness may play a more prominent role in the initial state of memory than in its progressive decline." Venegas-Sanabria also said: "The study underscores the importance of addressing loneliness as a significant factor in the context of cognitive performance in older adults."
The researchers assessed participants' immediate and delayed recall abilities using word-list tests while also measuring physical activity levels, social engagement, depression scores, diabetes status and other factors that could influence results. Loneliness was defined by responses to three questions about companionship and feelings of isolation.
Most participants reported average or low levels of loneliness at baseline; those with high levels tended to be older women with poorer self-reported health and higher rates of depression or chronic conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. While these individuals had lower initial recall scores compared to others, their subsequent rate of cognitive change did not differ markedly during follow-up assessments between year three and year seven.
The authors note that their analysis treated feelings of loneliness as constant throughout the study period even though perceptions may shift over time due to personal or environmental changes.
