title: Loneliness and cognition in older people: the Dublin Healthy Ageing study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While several studies have found a link between impaired cognition and social isolation, few have examined the relationship between cognition and loneliness. Loneliness has been thought to increase the risk of development of Alzheimer's dementia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to explore the relationship between loneliness and cognition and to determine whether specific cognitive domains are associated with loneliness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional community-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 466 community-dwelling subjects with mean age 75.45 (SD 6.06) years, of which 208(44%) were males.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Loneliness was significantly associated with impaired global cognition independent of social networks and depression. The domains of psychomotor processing speed and delayed visual memory were specifically associated with self-reported loneliness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cross-sectional study demonstrated an association between loneliness and specific aspects of cognition independent of depression, social networks and other demographics. The mechanism for this association is unclear and warrants further investigation.
authors: Mercer's Institute for Research in Ageing, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. conorol22@gmail.com
authors: C
authors: C
authors: O'Luanaigh
authors: H
authors: H
authors: O'Connell
authors: A-V
authors: AV
authors: Chin
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Hamilton
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Coen
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Walsh
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Walsh
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Caokley
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Cunningham
authors: B A
authors: BA
authors: Lawlor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support