Nevertheless,
Loneliness affects brain elderly accelerates:
Normal memory loss. Nevertheless, which is not caused by any disease, is associated with aging, That is to say, with age, memory is weakening due to the death of neural cells and the weakening of the brain.
However. In addition, research carried out by researchers from the University of Waterloo in Canada has identified Another factor that accelerates memory loss in the elderly: loneliness.
Loneliness is a feeling of isolation. Therefore, even when one is surrounded by people, and can have serious consequences on physical and mental health.
According to the authors of this study. Therefore, loneliness could be an accelerator of the cognitive decline, With an even more important impact than social isolation itself.
Effects of loneliness on the brain of the elderly – Loneliness affects brain elderly accelerates
For loneliness affects brain elderly accelerates this studythe researchers followed for six years four different groups of the elderly. Moreover, distributed as follows: 1) Those who were isolated socially and alone, 2) those which were only socially isolated, 3) those which were only alone and 4) those which were neither, and they have mapped their social ties and their ability to remember.
And what they have observed is revealing: it is not the absence of people around oneself that most affects memory. For example, But rather the feeling of being alone, even when one is surrounded by people, that is to say the feeling of loneliness.
According to the study. the emotional impact of loneliness can be as harmful to the cognitive health of the elderly as the lack of social stimulation.
According to research results. The group of elderly people isolated socially and lonely presented the decline in the most important memory, which has intensified loneliness affects brain elderly accelerates in the six years. People who do not feel alone but who are socially isolated can stimulate their mental capacities by individual activities such as reading. games and hobbies that improve memory and stimulate the brain, even without engaging in social activities.
But what really caught the attention of researchers is that even people who were surrounded by people But who felt. alone have suffered significant cognitive losses.
The increase in cortisol (stress hormone) combined with low emotional stimulation can lead to a progressive decline in cognitive functions. Ji Won Kang. principal author of the study, said: “It is surprising to note that loneliness has a stronger impact than social isolation itself, which has rarely been highlighted in previous loneliness affects brain elderly accelerates research”.
Tips to preserve the proper functioning of your memory
It is important to keep the brain active. not only at this age, But at all stages of life.
This can be done through tasks such as gardening. planting a flower or plant, physical activity, board games, reading, maintaining regular contacts with friends and family, participation in community groups or social clubs, and many more.
The important thing, is that everything that requests the brain helps preserve memory!
References of the article:
Loneliness increases risk of age-related memory loss. 10 de julho, 2024. University of Waterloo.
Exploring the differential impacts of social isolation. loneliness, and their combination on the memory of an aging population: A 6-year longitudinal study of the CLSA. 23 de maio, 2024. Kang, et al.
Solitude accelerates memory loss in the elderly, points university of Waterloo. April 16, 2025. André Nicolau and João Gabriel Braga.
Further reading: The Nouvel Observatoire Vera C. Rubin unveils unpublished images of the universe – RTS.CH – The Google Pixel 8 Pro is being destocking just before the summer sales start – Sciences: When the earth was frozen, life would have found refuge in ponds – 7 years later, he realizes that he is playing all the time with the most difficult settings … – “We use neurons for calculation and intelligence”: this cerebral organoid, rented 300 €/week, already controls robotic interfaces.
