Social Isolation in the Elderly Tied to Increased Dementia Risk
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Social isolation is associated with a significantly increased risk of dementia in older people, new research shows. Results of a large, prospective, epidemiologic study show that individuals who reported feeling socially isolated had worse cognitive function at baseline than those who did not report social isolation and were 26% more likely to have dementia at follow-up. MRI scans conducted nearly 9 years after study enrollment also showed that those who reported feeling socially isolated had lower gray matter volume (GMV) in areas of the brain linked to learning and memory.
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@kulwinder It is clear that if you are isolated, for example, living alone and not confiding in others, then you may be suffering from chronic stress through relying on only yourself, with no one to help you or with whom to discuss your problems.