Believing you’re lonely has far more impact on brain health than actually being alone, scientists find (opens original article in a new tab)

A study found that feeling lonely, not just being alone, significantly affects brain health and increases the risk of cognitive impairment and shorter lifespan.

• Loneliness has a greater impact on brain health than being alone, according to a study of 175,000 adults.
• People who felt lonely had an 8-9% higher risk of severe cognitive impairment and a 3% lower chance of recovering from mild impairment.
• Being alone was not consistently linked to cognitive decline, but loneliness was associated with shorter lifespan and cognitive issues.