Adult social isolation may be linked to accelerated brain aging, according to research published in July in the journal Psychological Medicine. A long-term study tracking individuals born in Modern Zealand between 1972 and 1973 revealed that those experiencing social isolation in adulthood exhibited brain aging approximately 1.73 years ahead of their peers who reported no such isolation.
The study, conducted by researchers utilizing data from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, followed a cohort of 1037 individuals from infancy through age 45. Participants were categorized based on their experiences with social isolation: never isolated, isolated only in childhood, isolated only in adulthood, or isolated throughout both childhood, and adulthood. Evaluations of the participants’ brain health were conducted at age 45.
“The message to take away is to maintain your social connections, which will provide you with better brain health and better cognitive function – as well as other benefits – in the long term,” stated Roy Lay-Yee, one of the study’s authors, in a statement to PsyPost. Notably, the research indicated that isolation experienced solely during childhood did not demonstrate a corresponding impact on brain aging.
“This suggests that It’s never too late to improve a person’s social relationships,” Lay-Yee commented. The findings raise the possibility that adult social isolation has demonstrable effects on the aging process of the brain, though researchers emphasize the require for further investigation to establish a definitive causal relationship.
The study emerges as public health officials continue to assess the long-term consequences of pandemic-related lockdowns and social distancing measures implemented in recent years. France experienced multiple national and local lockdowns beginning in March 2020, as the government sought to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2, according to a Wikipedia article on the subject. These measures, while intended to protect public health, resulted in widespread social disruption and increased isolation for many citizens.
Prior to the publication of this study, initial post-COVID assessments had already indicated potential impacts on mental health. The new research suggests these impacts may extend to broader physiological effects, specifically concerning cognitive function and brain health.