Loneliness Increases Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Loneliness and social isolation seem to be at the root of many of the horrific headlines in the news these days. We are social animals and depend on the affection, stimulation and reassurance of our fellows whether we are struggling teenagers, alienated adults, or just lonely seniors. Emotional isolation is a serious problem, particularly as we age. Our spouse dies, our friends start to die, our faculties fail us, we lose our independence, we may have to move in with family in a distant city far from everything we know, or we may have to move into a nursing home with complete strangers.

New research in the Archives of General Psychiatry has linked loneliness to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Social isolation has already been associated with dementia. Living alone, having few friends, participating in few activities with others -- all are behaviors that can lead a person to separate from society and disassociate from life.

Experts define emotional isolation as being dissatisfied with social
interactions, social isolation as lacking them entirely.

In a four-year study that tracked 823 elderly individuals, researches found that people with a high degree of loneliness were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's symptoms. In some way as yet unexplained, loneliness damages the brain, leading to the development of Alzheimer's symptoms, researchers believe.

Loneliness and feelings of isolation are signs of clinical depression which can be successfully treated in 80% of cases. Unfortunately, too many older Americans think depression is a normal part of aging, something they can "handle," and never seek treatment. Depression is not a state of mind. You cannot talk yourself out of depression. It is a symptom of a chemical imbalance in the brain and is highly treatable with a combination of drug and counseling therapies. If you are feeling lonely, or if someone you know seems to have isolated himself, please take them to a doctor or mental health professional for help.