Over the 12-year study, participants reporting loneliness experienced 20% faster cognitive decline than other participants. This result held true regardless of factors like demographics, socioeconomic status and the presence of other debilitating health conditions. Higher levels of depression also correlated significantly with more rapid cognitive decline.
“Our study suggests that even one or two depressive symptoms – particularly loneliness – is associated with an increased rate of cognitive decline over 12 years,” said Nancy J. Donovan, MD, of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “We found that lonely people decline cognitively at a faster rate than people who report more satisfying social networks and connections.”
The researchers also evaluated the possibility that reduced cognitive function might lead to greater loneliness, but didn’t find evidence to support a link in that direction.
“Although loneliness and depression appear closely linked, loneliness may, by itself, have effects on cognitive decline. This is important to know as we develop treatments to enhance cognitive health and quality of life for older adults,” added Donovan.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
"Loneliness Is A Mind Killer"
"Study Shows Link To Rapid Cognitive Decline In Older Adults"
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5 comments:
Go to a nursing home and you'll see it.
All those people locked alone in their minds.
So what is this magical treatment that's going to wipe out loneliness and improve the "cognitive abilities" of alte kockers? There is no magical treatment. Stop worshipping science. Loneliness is as natural and inevitable as breathing. And neither loneliness nor depression are "mind killers." In fact the effort to overcome loneliness and depression by using the mind to grapple with a problem, any problem, is a mind waker-upper.
Explains the decline @ TOP.
How much cognitive function do you lose when you're forced to hang out with stupid and/or uncongnial people? Asking for a friend. I love nearly everyone on earth.
A lonely mind is an inactive mind. An inactive mind is a declining mind. A declining mind is a dying mind. We need interaction in order to allow higher order synaptic functions to fire on a constant and consistent basis. Where dopamine and endorphins can be released on a consistent basis. Where human contact can keep a mind in motion, because at it's core the entire universe and us require motion to remain alive and vital.
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