A new US study suggests there is a strong link between loneliness and Alzheimer’s in old age. The study is published in this month’s issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Risk of developing Alzheimer’s in old age has been linked to social isolation before, but not with perceived isolation, or loneliness. Social isolation is a measure of connectedness with one’s social environment. It can be assessed by measuring extent and quality of social contact and relationships. Loneliness on the other hand is a more subjective variable, it can only be assessed by asking people questions like how alone, empty or abandoned they feel. Social isolation can occur without loneliness, and loneliness can occur even when one has many social contacts. Many scientists think that increasing isolation can trigger loneliness, and there is evidence to suggest that the two covary in the same direction – that is that people with the fewest social contacts feel the most lonely. Social isolation and loneliness tend to increase with age. For example networks of family, friends and acquaintances tend to get smaller through retirement, death of family members and friends, ill health and loss of mobility. In […]