The National Institute of Health Conducts Research on the Cognitive Effects of Isolation

In 2014, The National Institute of Health announced their results from several studies that they performed on the effects that isolation has on brain function. Through their studies, they found trends of several effects including


  • In lonely adults, a significantly high mortality rate can be found. This rate is "double that of the mortality for obesity and quadruple the odds ratio for air pollution." Although this correlation was found, the reason for this correlation is unclear
  • "Several studies also indicate that loneliness is a risk factor for cognitive decline" and it can affect the brain in almost every way over a period of time
  • Over a long period of time, isolation can eventually lead to dementia 

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc. Object name is nihms826289f1.jpg
 A: Anatomy of the isolated human brain. Sagittal view of the human brain. Main human brain areas shown to be associated with perceived social isolation (loneliness) are labeled. B: Effects of perceived social isolation on biology. Perceived social isolation (loneliness) in humans is associated with higher tonic vascular resistance, blood pressure and hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical (HPA) activation, and lower inflammatory control, immunity, and sleep salubrity. 


Read the full article here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5130107/

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