Study: 'Persistent' Loneliness in Middle Age Increases Dementia Risk

A study published in Alzheimer's and Dementia found adults who experience loneliness in middle age are more likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer's disease later, reports United Press International . People who were "persistently lonely" between the ages of 45 and 64 had a 91 percent elevated risk for dementia and a 76 percent greater risk for Alzheimer's disease compared to those who do not feel lonely. "We think because human beings are social and need social interaction, without . . . interaction, the brain can lose external stimulation, which can increase Alzheimer's risk," said Boston University's Wendy Qiu. The researchers determined that social isolation, lack of physical exercise and intellectual stimulation, and poor physical health are risk factors for all forms of dementia. "People in this age group should realize the existence of the risk and prepare to face mid-life challenges," Qiu said. "As a society, we can do things to intervene in loneliness, like providing counseling and reaching out to those who are facing life stressors or grieving."