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Loneliness increased risk for dementia in elderly

Feelings of loneliness were associated with an increased risk for dementia in later life, according to study results recently published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. The results point to a risk factor that clinicians may need to address with their older patients.

“A better understanding of the background of feeling lonely may help us to identify vulnerable persons and develop interventions to improve outcome in older persons at risk of dementia,” the researchers wrote.

The study included 2,173 participants, aged at least 65 years, who were free of dementia at baseline. They were followed for 3 years, and dementia was assessed using a number of validated tests. Social isolation was defined as either living alone, being unmarried or lacking social support, and the participants were asked to rate their feelings of loneliness.

At the beginning of the study, 46.2% of participants were living alone, 50.6% were not or were no longer married and 73.2% lacked social support. Nearly 20% reported feelings of loneliness.

Of those living alone at baseline, 9.3% had developed dementia within 3 years compared with 5.6% of those living with others (P=.001). Among those who were not or were no longer married, 9.2% had developed dementia vs. 5.3% of married participants (P=.001). Of those lacking social support, 5.6% had developed dementia compared with 11.4% who had social support (P<.001). More than twice as many participants who reported feelings of loneliness at baseline met criteria for dementia 3 years later compared with those who were not lonely (13.4% vs. 5.7%; P<.001).

Additional analysis indicated that participants living alone (OR=1.72; 95% CI, 1.24-2.4) and those who were not or were no longer married (OR=1.8; 95% CI, 1.29-2.52) were also at increased risk for dementia.

Those who reported feelings of loneliness were more than 2.5 times as likely to develop dementia (OR=2.56; 95% CI, 1.82-3.61). Adjusting for additional risk factors, the researchers found that participants who felt lonely were still at an increased risk for the disease (OR=1.64; 95% CI, 1.05-2.56).

The researchers said further research is needed to explain the relationship between feelings of loneliness and increased risk for dementia.

“In order to develop a better understanding of these feelings, we need to know whether they are a signal of a prodromal stage of dementia or a direct result of neurodegenerative pathology affecting social skills or whether feelings of loneliness are an indicator of vulnerable personality, personality change or other frailty factors,” they wrote.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.