They say a study of over 175,000 adults in 18 countries revealed that persistent loneliness has the ability to shorten your lifespan and drives cognitive impairment.
People who reported feeling lonely 10 percent more than others had an 8-9 percent raised risk of severely impaired cognitive function and of becoming mildly impaired.
They also had a three percent reduced likelihood of improving mild cognitive impairment.
They used statistical modeling to test the impacts of both loneliness and being alone on cognitive impairment.
That’s why finding ways to reduce loneliness is crucial for peoples’ mental and biological health, the researchers say.
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Loneliness is much more than a bad feeling. The mental condition has long been shown to have major impacts for multiple facets of health, such as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia.
Now, American researchers have identified additional concerns that could lead people to make changes in their social lives. They say a study of over 175,000 adults in 18 countries revealed that persistent loneliness has the ability to shorten your lifespan and drives cognitive impairment.
People who reported feeling lonely 10 percent more than others had an 8-9 percent raised risk of severely impaired cognitive function and of becoming mildly impaired. They also had a three percent reduced likelihood of improving mild cognitive impairment.
“Loneliness may be most prominent in early stages of cognitive impairment, but is also a risk factor after impairment develops,” Eileen Graham, an associate professor at Northwestern University, explained in a statement. “Lonelier individuals may be more likely to progress to more severe stages and less likely to recover.”
And people who were lonely, instead of just being alone, saw a greater impact. Being alone is a physical state where people have fewer interactions with others, whereas being lonely is a distressing feeling that can occur even when other people are around.
open image in gallery We’ve long known loneliness is bad for our health. A large new analysis shows it is fueling cognitive impairment ( Getty Images )
“Loneliness is a perception,” Tomiko Yoneda, an assistant professor of psychology at UC Davis, said. “You could be surrounded by a crowd of people and still feel lonely, whereas isolation is just being alone. Some people might be not lonely at all and be completely content in their solitude.”
Graham and her colleagues analyzed the health of adults over the age of 50 who reported how often they had contact with other people and how often they felt lonely.
They used statistical modeling to test the impacts of both loneliness and being alone on cognitive impairment.
Being alone on its own was not consistently associated with cognitive decline or a shorter life – but loneliness had the opposite impacts.
The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, according to a former U.S. Surgeon General’s Office report.
It’s also tied to anxiety, depression, stroke and obesity.
open image in gallery Many people feel lonely. It may sound self-explanatory but experts say the best way to alleviate that feeling is to stay connected with others ( AFP via Getty Images )
More than half of Americans say they feel isolated, left out or are lacking companionship, according to a 2025 American Psychological Association survey.
That’s why finding ways to reduce loneliness is crucial for peoples’ mental and biological health, the researchers say.
It’s easier said than done, but finding ways to strengthen social connections can make a big difference.
That may mean finding a place to volunteer, signing up for a group activity you enjoy or making more plans with friends and family.
There are three things Dr. Stephanie Cacioppo, an assistant professor at UChicago Medicine, recommends: introspection, connection and interaction.
“First, stay connected and make a daily effort to express gratitude. Next, do something helpful or nice for others (without expecting anything in return),” she advised in a statement.
“Collaborate with others and work together in harmony. Volunteer to help people in need. Choose to engage with people (including strangers) on different levels and on a broad range of topics, and listen to them. Finally, share positive news (rather than negative information) and expect the best from people,” said Cacioppo.
