A geriatrician warns this silent emotion triggers Alzheimer’s: ‘It’s as risky as diabetes’
Chronic loneliness has become one of the most pressing issues of our time, with a profound impact on not only our emotional wellbeing but our brain health, too. Experts note, however, that feeling lonely isn’t the same as simply being alone. While social isolation is something we can measure as the objective lack of regular human contact, loneliness is deeply personal. It’s that subjective sense of disconnection or emptiness that can hit you even while you’re in a crowded room, and it can take a serious toll on both your mental and cognitive health. Unfortunately, it’s a problem that’s on the rise. When we’re isolated from the outside world, we miss out on the mental ‘spark’ triggered by social interactions that are important for keeping our brains sharp and helping to ward off age-related decline. © Getty Images Geriatrician Dr Liliana Vargas explains that loneliness is an Alzheimer’s risk factor ‘every bit as significant’ as more traditional ones, from hypertension to diabetes The link between unwanted loneliness and dementia Recent studies have highlighted that unwanted …
