Study: Loneliness widespread among seniors, risking their health
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Loneliness in older people has a similar mortality risk to smoking 15 cigarettes per day and is more harmful than alcoholism or obesity. Studies have already made these alarming connections, and now a team of Indiana researchers has uncovered just how widespread loneliness is.
Regenstrief Institute research scientist Dr. Monica Williams-Farrelly says more than half of older people report being lonely. It’s a finding she says should elevate loneliness to a doctor-patient discussion that’s equally as important as talking about smoking or alcoholism.
“In our sample of older adults, half reported some type of loneliness—‘somewhat’ to ‘a lot,’” says Williams-Farrelly, the study’s lead author. “Fifty percent is huge—that’s a big number. And to think the influence of loneliness is as strong as things that we’ve been talking about how uhealthy they are for 30 or 40 years now—I think that’s really telling.”
The study, which included Regenstrief Institute research scientists Dr. Malaz Boustani and Dr. Nicole Fowler, also found that loneliness affects overall health-related quality of life. Williams-Farrelly says loneliness can have a direct influence, impacting “a whole host of health outcomes” in older adults. Loneliness also influences anxiety and depression, which impact physical health. Williams-Farrelly says someone who is lonely is less likely to leave the house or be physically active, and it’s also been connected to eating less healthy.
Williams-Farrelly says that looks can be deceiving, because loneliness “is definitely a subjective thing.”
“I think we’re starting to recognize that things outside of eating healthy and exercising, things that you don’t necessarily think about also [impact your mental and physical health]. If we could find a way to make them better, your overall health would hopefully skyrocket,” says Williams-Farrelly. “Health is multi-faceted and recognizing more of those social things is a good movement in the medical community.”
While most studies in medical schools focus on “some of the harder sciences,” like physical activity and nutrition, she’s hopeful research will swell in these related areas as science uncovers their connection to health.
The Regenstrief study, recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, highlights the important role of primary care doctors in elevating the topic of loneliness with their older patients, as well as explaining to them why it’s a critical aspect of their health.
“I don’t think people fully realize the influence that loneliness can have on their physical health,” says Williams-Farrelly. “Older adults are starting to pay more attention to their health than previous generations, so if you’re looking at your health holistically, social connection is one aspect of that. Doctors need to be reminding their patients that staying connected is really important.”
Williams-Farrelly says having a wide social circle also benefits older adults’ brain health.
An especially challenging aspect of loneliness is that “it’s hard to tackle,” says Williams-Farrelly. The solutions to other common health stressors are more straightforward, such as lose weight or stop smoking; and often, medications exist to help. But interventions for loneliness are more ambiguous.
“A lot of people get stuck in a rut, and it’s really hard to convince them to be socially active,” says Williams-Farrelly. “Finding interventions for loneliness is going to be difficult, and it’s going to be complicated, but we’re working on this.”
Some existing solutions include tying a hobby or interest to a social setting, such as joining a gardening group, walking club or pickleball league.
“Those things are perfect,” says Williams-Farrelly. “You’re getting physical activity, but also engaging with people socially, so you’re doing two things at the same time for your health.”
Just this month, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs launched the Building Socially Connected Communities grant program, designed to help rural communities implement a variety of initiatives to address loneliness among adults of all ages.
The study was funded by the NIH National Institute on Aging, and Williams-Farrelly is applying for more funding to better understand social connection and what people are affected the most by loneliness.
“Once we know those two things, we can start to design some targeted interventions that will really make a difference,” says Williams-Farrelly. “Not letting [this study] die on the bookshelf is really important, so hopefully I can do my part to figure out how to fix it.”