Even when meeting people, loneliness causes memory to drop sharply

Loneliness... they say it deteriorates memory...

I need to help my mother participate more in outside activities.

I thought at least you were enjoying a hobby with park golf and meeting people...

You underwent surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, and as a sequela, your fingers do not move normally.

It's a big worry... Oh dear... ㅠ_ㅠ

Should I even look into hobbies...

Even if your hand returns to normal... it would be nice if you could play park golf, exercise, and meet people...

By the way, even if I meet people, feeling lonely on my own... that's also a problem...

These days, many people feel isolated among the crowd and experience loneliness...

Unlike before, I also strangely meet and talk with people less, and gatherings have decreased...

I should try to think more positively and make an effort to communicate with people.

------------------------------------------------

If you do not feel lonely, stimulate your brain through hobbies and other activities on your own.

Loneliness has been shown to have a more negative impact on memory than social isolation in the elderly. [Photo = Getty Images Bank]

Loneliness is a subjective feeling that can be experienced even when participating in social activities. It is often associated with increased stress hormones that can contribute to depression and memory decline. Research has shown that this type of loneliness is more dangerous than social isolation.

According to a study published in the journal Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, loneliness has a more negative impact on memory than social isolation in the elderly.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada studied the four combinations of social isolation and loneliness and their effects on the memory of middle-aged and elderly individuals over six years. These include the combination of social isolation and loneliness, the combination of social isolation only, the combination of loneliness only, and the combination of neither.

Research results showed that people who are socially isolated and lonely experienced the greatest decline in memory, which worsened over six years. The research team said, "We were surprised to find that loneliness is the second most significant factor affecting memory. Many studies report on the risks of social isolation without considering loneliness."

People who are socially isolated but do not feel lonely can enhance their memory and stimulate their brains through hobbies such as reading and gaming, even if they do not participate in social activities.

The researchers stated, "People who are socially isolated and lonely experience the greatest memory decline, and loneliness alone can significantly harm memory," emphasizing that "these findings highlight the importance of addressing loneliness to support cognitive health in the elderly population."