A person's social lifestyle is associated with risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), according to a new study from McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Why it matters
Socially isolated people have a higher risk of developing ADRD due to the many dangers of social isolation, which include
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Sleep disturbances
- Physical inactivity
- Cardiovascular disease
- Vision or hearing impairment
- Diabetes
- Neurotic or depressive behaviors.
These factors place additional stress on the body, increasing the risk of developing dementia.
The big picture
ADRD carries a global cost of over $1 trillion annually. Researchers have established the link between social isolation and a greater risk of ADRD. But the relationship between social lifestyle and other known ADRD risk factors is less clear.
- Social isolation can be modified more easily than genetic or underlying health risks, making social isolation a prime target for prevention and formulating policy.
- Social activities, counseling, and support groups can help to reduce the risk of developing dementia, and so can education about the dangers of social isolation and the importance of staying socially engaged.
- Policies that promote social connectedness, such as providing access to recreational activities and social networks, can help reduce the risk of isolation and related hazards.
A closer look
The researchers studied data from 502,506 UK Biobank participants and 30,097 Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging subjects, examining questions about loneliness, social interaction frequency, and social support.
The study established connections between modifiable risk factors for ADRD and loneliness and a lack of social support.
- Participants who smoked more, drank excessively, had disrupted sleep, and neglected to exercise had an increased chance of feeling lonely and lacking social support.
- Regular physical activities with others reduced the risk of loneliness by 20.1% and reduced the risk of poor social support by 26.9%.
Other findings
- Cardiovascular disease, hearing loss, diabetes, and anxiety/depression were associated with feeling socially isolated.
- Difficulty hearing with background noise had a 29.0% increase in the odds of feeling lonely and a 9.86% increase in the odds of lacking social support.
Lower your risk of ADRD
Call to schedule a free, 15-minute hearing screening with an audiologist. It's easy to find out if you have hearing loss. Don't guess. Find out.
If you have hearing loss, your audiologist will explain —
- How much hearing you've lost
- Whether your hearing needs treatment
- How hearing aids help your brain stay healthy and lower the risk of dementia
