Loneliness may be linked to lower memory in older adults

A study of more than 10,000 adults aged 65–94 across 12 European countries found higher reported loneliness was associated with lower memory test scores at the start of the study, while rates of memory decline over seven years were similar across loneliness levels.

Researchers analyzed data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) covering 10,217 adults aged 65 to 94 from 12 countries. Memory was measured with immediate and delayed word-recall tests, and loneliness was measured with three questions about feeling isolated, left out, or lacking companionship. At baseline, participants who reported higher loneliness scored lower on both immediate and delayed memory tests. Over a seven-year follow-up, however, memory declined at a similar rate regardless of loneliness level. Key findings: - The study used SHARE data collected from 2012 to 2019 and included 10,217 older adults. - About 8% of participants reported high levels of loneliness at baseline; this group tended to be older, more often female, and had higher rates of depression and other conditions. - Higher reported loneliness was associated with lower baseline scores on immediate and delayed memory tests. - All groups experienced similar rates of memory decline over the seven-year period, regardless of loneliness level. - Lead author Luis Carlos Venegas-Sanabria said the results suggest loneliness may influence initial memory status more than the speed of later decline, and the researchers suggested screening for loneliness in routine cognitive assessments. Summary: The study reports an association between greater loneliness and poorer baseline memory performance but does not find evidence that loneliness accelerates memory decline over seven years. External experts cited in the article noted the relationship may be complex and could reflect co-occurring health conditions. The authors recommended considering loneliness screening in cognitive assessments, and they indicated additional research is needed to clarify when and how loneliness affects cognitive health.