Researchers have identified a new risk factor for dementia, which may manifest long before the onset of symptoms.
In the United States, over seven million individuals are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the most prevalent form of dementia. Statistics reveal that one in three Americans die with Alzheimer’s or another variant of dementia.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the mortality rate from Alzheimer’s surpasses that of breast and prostate cancers combined.
Recent findings suggest that the origins of cognitive decline might trace back to childhood experiences.
A significant study has highlighted that loneliness experienced during childhood is closely associated with accelerated cognitive decline, increasing the risk of dementia for those aged 50 and above.
Interestingly, even individuals who had social interactions but felt lonely in their youth were found to have a heightened risk of developing dementia. This correlation persisted regardless of whether they experienced loneliness in adulthood.
The research indicates that social isolation in early life can have long-lasting effects on brain health.
Academics from institutions in Australia, the US, and China emphasized the significance of examining early brain development stages. Children are particularly susceptible to stress factors such as loneliness, neglect, bullying, and poverty.
Approximately half of the 1,400 adults surveyed reported feeling lonely and having few close friends during childhood. The study characterized ‘childhood loneliness’ as a feeling of isolation and a lack of close friendships.
Findings revealed that individuals who experienced loneliness in childhood entered their middle age with diminished memory and cognitive abilities.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study also demonstrated that their cognitive functions declined more rapidly each year compared to those who did not report childhood loneliness.
The research team analyzed data from over 13,592 people in China, monitoring their cognitive health from June 2011 to December 2018. This timeframe was chosen to mitigate any potential effects from the Covid pandemic. Participants underwent repeated cognitive assessments over seven years to assess decline.
The study revealed that adults who recalled a lonely childhood and difficulty in forming close friendships faced a 41 percent higher risk of dementia. Those who affirmed feeling lonely often had a 51 percent increased risk, even if they had close friends.
This research is groundbreaking in linking childhood adversities like loneliness to later cognitive deterioration and dementia.
These findings emerge as youth loneliness in the US is escalating, partly due to social media influences.
Data from Girl Scouts indicates that an alarming 73 percent of girls aged 11 to 13 reported loneliness last year.
Similarly, a study by Common Sense Media found that approximately 26 percent of boys aged 11 to 17 experienced feelings of loneliness.