Socially Isolated Older Adults 27% More Likely To Develop Dementia

The risk of developing dementia was 27% higher among socially isolated older adults compared with older adults who were not socially isolated over thenine-year study period. Of older adults analyzed, 25.9% of those who were socially isolated at the start of the study developed dementia by the end of the follow-up period, compared to 19.6% of those who were not socially isolated.

When adjustments were made for demographic factors, the hazard incidence of dementia in socially isolated individuals increased to 33% compared to those who were not socially isolated. When adjustments were made for health factors . . .