A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers has found that older adults who live in isolation have 27% more chance of developing dementia.
In a news release , Dr. Thomas Cudjoe, an assistant Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins, stated that social connections are important for cognitive health.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. It surveyed 5,022 adults 65 and older who had no dementia. They were not in residential care facilities, with an average age of 75. Around 23% of participants were isolated from others.
A person who is socially isolated means they have few relationships or few people with whom to interact regularly. This was determined by whether participants were living alone, had conversations about “important matters” in the last year with more than one person, or attended religious services or social events. Each item was assigned a point and participants were given one point. Participants who scored zero or one were considered socially isolated.
Researchers conducted cognitive tests over the course of nine-years. About 21% of participants in the study developed dementia. However, dementia was more common among socially isolated participants than in those who were not.
There were no significant differences in race or ethnicity. The study did not find significant differences in race or ethnicity. However, the majority of participants were white, with a small number of Hispanic, Asian, and Native participants. The authors recommend further research into the subject.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , social isolation was previously identified as a risk factor for dementia and has been linked to other serious conditions like heart disease and depression.
According to the CDC , approximately 5.8 million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease, which is the most prevalent type of dementia.
Social engagement can increase the quality of life and slow down its progression for those with dementia.
An second study using similar data found that older adults can be socially isolated by having access to technology like cell phones.
“This is encouraging because simple interventions may prove to be meaningful,” Mfon umoh, a Johns Hopkins postdoctoral fellow, stated in a news release.
Copyright 2023 NPR. Copyright 2023 NPR.
