Last Up Dated on: June 13, 2007
Loneliness Associated with Increased Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Lonely individuals may be twice as likely to develop the type of dementia
linked to Alzheimer’s disease in late life as those who are not lonely,
according to a study by researchers at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease
Center. The study is published in the February issue of Archives of
General Psychiatry.
Previous studies have shown that social isolation, or having few
interactions with others, is associated with an increased risk of dementia
and cognitive decline. However, little was know about the emotional
isolation, which refers to feeling alone rather than being alone.
Robert S. Wilson, PhD, and his colleagues, analyzed the association
between loneliness and Alzheimer’s disease in 823 older adults over a four
year period. Participants underwent evaluations that included
questionnaires to assess loneliness, classifications of dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease, and testing of their thinking, learning and memory
abilities. Loneliness was measured on a scale of one to five, with higher
scores indicating more loneliness. The data was collected between November
2000 and May 2006.
At
the first examination, participants’ average loneliness score was 2.3.
During the study period, 76 individuals developed dementia that met
criteria for Alzheimer’s disease. Risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease
increased approximately 51 percent for each point on the loneliness score,
so that a person with a high loneliness score (3.2) had about 2.1 times
greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than a person with a low
score (1.4). The findings did not change significantly when the
researchers factored in markers of social isolations, such as a small
network and infrequent social activities.
According to Wilson, loneliness is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease,
not an early sign of the disease. Autopsies were performed on 90
individuals who died during the study. Loneliness during life was not
related to any of the hallmark brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s
disease, including nerve plaques and tangles, or tissue damaged by lack of
blood flow.
“Humans are very social creatures. We need healthy interactions with
others to maintain our health,” said Wilson. “The results of our study
suggest that people who are persistently lonely may be more vulnerable to
the deleterious effects of age-related neuropathology.”
The
mechanism that does link dementia and loneliness is unclear. Wilson
encourages more study to look at how negative emotions cause changes in
the brain.
“If
loneliness is causing changes in the brain, it is quite possible that
medications or changes in behavior could lessen the effects of these
negative emotions and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” said
Wilson.
The
researchers are extremely grateful for the remarkable dedication and
altruism of the volunteers participating in the Rush Memory and Aging
Project. The research was supported by grants from the Illinois Department
of Public Health and the National Institutes on Aging, which leads the
Federal effort to support and conduct basic, clinical, and social and
behavioral studies on aging and on Alzheimer’s disease.
Stewart
Burk - Knights of Columbus
516
Wellwood Court, Tecumseh, ON, N8N 3E2
Phone:
519-966-9977 email: stewart.burk@kofc.org
