A major study has found that childhood loneliness is strongly associated with faster cognitive decline and a significantly higher risk of dementia later in life.
Childhood loneliness may be a surprising early trigger for dementia, according to a report from the DAILY MAIL. A major study cited in the report suggests that the roots of cognitive decline can begin decades before symptoms appear, starting as early as childhood.
Researchers found that the emotional experience of loneliness in childhood — even among kids who had friends — was strongly linked to faster cognitive decline and a 41 percent higher risk of dementia in people aged 50 and above. The study showed that this link persisted even into adulthood, regardless of whether the individuals later felt lonely or not.
Scientists from universities in China, Australia, and the United States, including Harvard and Boston University, conducted the research by analyzing data from more than 13,592 Chinese adults. Participants were tracked from June 2011 to December 2018, with repeated cognitive tests used to measure decline and identify who developed dementia.
The study defined childhood loneliness as frequently feeling lonely and lacking a close friend. About 4.2 percent of participants fell into this high-risk category. Those who responded “I often felt lonely” faced a 51 percent higher risk of dementia.
The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, suggest that early-life isolation may leave lasting biological effects on the developing brain, increasing vulnerability to memory loss later in life.