Loneliness found to increase risk of health deterioration in older people

Researchers from Amsterdam UMC and the University of Glasgow say the loneliness often experienced by older people in our society has a negative impact on their physical health. Emiel Hoogendijk, an epidemiologist at Amsterdam Public Health, analyzed the results of more than 130 studies and found that loneliness leads to increased physical frailty, which in turn increases the risk of negative health outcomes such as depression, falls and cognitive decline. I discovered that it can be done. These results are today Lancet Health and Longevity.

“Recently, there has been more attention to the potential negative effects of loneliness and social isolation on the health of older adults, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. “What I wanted to know was that we saw all sorts of social declines. Dysfunctions like loneliness, social isolation, and lack of social support were associated with physical decline in older adults.” Hoogendijk says.

Researchers led by clinical researcher Peter Hanlon from the University of Glasgow, together with researchers from Amsterdam UMC, Canada, Australia and Sweden, analyzed the relationship between social functioning and physical frailty in older people. “Frailty refers to many forms of physical decline, including weight loss, slow walking speed, and decreased muscle strength, all of which can impact, for example, the likelihood of falls,” says Hanlon. he says.

Previous research has already shown that frailty can lead to reduced social contact, and says: “In some cases, physical frailty may cause people to become more vulnerable, e.g. by reducing their mobility. “People may lose social contact and feel lonely,” Hoogendijk said. This study shows that this relationship can be reversed and reduced social contact can lead to frailty.

Impaired social functioning can have negative health effects, with the US Surgeon General claiming last year that loneliness is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

“We know that people who suffer from loneliness or lack social contact are at particularly high risk for depression and various chronic diseases. For example, lack of social contact directly affects the immune system. “In the future, we would like to conduct further research on this topic.” says Mr.

Impairments in social and physical functioning often occur together. “Physically frail older people often also have to deal with declines in both social and mental functioning. Those of us who care for older people pay attention to all of these aspects. “There is a need,” Hanlon said.

“Loneliness, for example, is not a problem that can be easily solved. However, we are learning more and more about the possibility of effective interventions, such as activities that help older people increase their social connections. .”