Khaberni - A new and significant study indicated that the roots of cognitive decline in later life stages might begin from childhood, as researchers discovered that the experience of loneliness in childhood is significantly associated with accelerated cognitive deterioration and an increased risk of dementia in individuals aged 50 and above.
Feeling lonely in childhood leaves scars on the brain.
The crucial factor was the subjective and emotional feeling of loneliness itself, which sharply increased the risk of dementia, even among those who had friends.
According to the "Daily Mail", more importantly, this association continued even among those who no longer felt lonely as adults, suggesting that the harmful effects of isolation early in life could cast a long shadow over brain health.
While loneliness at any age is a known risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia, the long-term impact of childhood loneliness is not well understood.
A critical gap in childhood
And this is a critical gap, as childhood is a vital period of brain development, where a child is highly susceptible to stress factors such as loneliness, poverty, food insecurity, neglect, and bullying.
The research was the fruit of a collaborative effort among scientists from universities in China, Australia, and the United States, including Harvard and Boston universities.
The team analyzed data from a large-scale, long-term study conducted on Chinese adults. They focused on over 13,592 participants and tracked their cognitive health from 2011 to 2018 to avoid any data distortion from the COVID pandemic.
Memory skills
People who felt lonely in their childhood began to show a decline in their memory and thinking skills. Furthermore, their cognitive abilities declined at a faster rate each year compared to those who did not feel lonely in their childhood.
The study defined "childhood loneliness" as the frequent feeling of loneliness and the lack of a close friend.
The study followed the participants for 7 years, using repeated cognitive tests to measure cognitive decline and track individuals who developed dementia.
Evaluating the effects of childhood loneliness
Those who remembered a childhood characterized by loneliness and the absence of close friends faced a 41% greater risk of developing dementia.
As for those who answered "yes" to the question "Did you feel lonely often?" they were more likely to develop dementia by 51%, even if some of them had a close friend.
For those who answered "yes" to the question "Do they have a close friend?" no significant difference was observed in the risk of developing dementia.
The link to dementia remained strong even for individuals who no longer felt lonely in adulthood, suggesting that the experience of loneliness early in life could leave a direct and lasting scar on the brain.
