Childhoodโค Loneliness Linked to Substantially Higher Dementia Risk, new Research Shows
Jakarta, Indonesia – Prolonged feelings of loneliness during โฃchildhood may dramatically increase โan individual’s risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease,โ later in life, according to emerging research. Studies indicate that individuals who experience chronic โloneliness inโ their youth face up to a 31 percent โhigher risk ofโ dementia compared โto those whoโ don’t, a figure that surpasses the impact of many traditionally recognized dementiaโ risk factors.
The โคfindings โunderscore the critical role of โฃsocial and emotionalโค wellbeing in long-term neurological health. Researchers hypothesize that sustained loneliness triggersโค a chronic stress โฃresponse in the brain, leading toโค a cascadeโ of biological changes that can impair cognitive function over decades. This โpositions loneliness not merely as an โemotional โconcern, but as โคa significant physical and brain health โrisk factor comparable to conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
The mechanisms linking childhood isolation to cognitive decline are multifaceted.Prolonged stress elevates โcortisol levels, causing systemic โคinflammation – including within the brain – which damages neurons and hinders the formation of new neural connections.โฃ Moreover, chronic stress can physicallyโ alter brainโค structure, especially in areas vital for memory and emotional processing, such as the hippocampus.
Early social isolation also inhibits the advancement ofโค “cognitive suggestion,” theโ brain’s strengthening โฃthrough active and meaningful interactions. Without thisโค early cognitive “exercise,” the brain โmay become more vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases in later life.
Experts emphasize that fostering strong social supports for children represents a crucial long-term investment in their future cognitive health.
(Source: โขgeriatri.co.id, bloombergtechnoz.com, voi.id)
