A recent study from the University of Waterloo revealed that loneliness negatively impacts memory more than social isolation, both of which has been known to pose significant risks to the aging population.

Researchers examined the effects of social isolation and loneliness on memory in over 14,000 middle-aged and older adults over six years, considering four scenarios: being both socially isolated and lonely, only socially isolated, only lonely, and neither.

“As we expected, people who were both socially isolated and lonely had the greatest decline in memory, which intensified over the six years,” said author, Ji Won Kang. “But we were surprised to find that loneliness alone had the second-greatest impact on memory, even though so many studies report on the dangers of social isolation without considering loneliness.”

Loneliness is a subjective feeling that can occur even during social interactions and is often linked to depression and increased stress hormones, which can impair memory.

People who are socially isolated but not lonely might engage in solo activities like reading and playing games, which stimulate the brain and improve memory.

Just because one is not socially isolated does not mean they do not feel lonely. On the flip side, many people who are socially isolated can continue to thrive through other means.

The study encourages us to no just focus on not just being alone but also our relationships with others and ourselves.

The was published in the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.

JW Kang et al. 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. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2024.105483