Loneliness May Hurt Memory but Not in the Way You Think

A large European study found that loneliness in older adults was linked to worse memory at baseline.

Researchers analyzed more than 10,000 adults ages 65 to 94 across 12 countries using SHARE data.

Over seven years, lonely participants did not show faster memory decline than less lonely peers.

The findings, published in Aging & Mental Health, suggest loneliness may affect current cognitive health but not necessarily accelerate decline.