Middle-aged people in the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may become more sociable, not less, according to a new major study.
The research, based on data from almost 500,000 British people over the age of 40, found that those at higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s were more likely to report active social lives, happier family relationships, and less isolation.
“This was surprising to us,” first author Dr Scott Zimmerman, senior research fellow at Boston University, told BBC Science Focus.
“We had expected to see more evidence of withdrawal from social networks, possibly due to changes in the ability to organise social activities or shifts in mood. But we found the opposite.”
The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, concluded that those experiencing the early signs of Alzheimer’s – such as subtle changes in thinking and memory – might draw closer to their family and friends, to receive more support with their daily activities.
Dementia has long been associated with social isolation and loneliness. However, it is not yet clear whether loneliness is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s, or whether social withdrawal is a consequence of the disease.
But these results suggest that adults at risk of Alzheimer’s are not likely to withdraw into themselves in the decades before diagnosis, before significant symptoms appear.
“Their social lives may even expand,” said co-senior author Dr Ashwin Kotwal, associate professor of medicine at UCSF, explaining that this study didn’t contradict previous research about Alzheimer’s and social disconnection, but instead provided more information about that link.
“This study suggests that the link between social isolation and dementia risk shown in other studies isn’t entirely due to early disease symptoms causing people to withdraw,” co-lead author Dr Ruijia Chen, postdoctoral researcher at Boston, told BBC Science Focus.
“This strengthens the case that staying socially connected could truly play a role in protecting brain health.”
Alongside genetic risks, there are a host of lifestyle factors that can influence whether an individual develops dementia, including their exercise habits, smoking status, blood pressure, blood sugars, sleep routine, mental health and medications.
These modifiable factors may account for around 30 per cent of Alzheimer’s disease – and loneliness may be one of them.
“In a time when social engagement is decreasing, we hope that families, communities and policymakers consider how to create more opportunities for healthy social engagement across the life course,” co-lead author Dr Jacqueline Torres, associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, told BBC Science Focus.
Read more:
- How to spot dementia early and reduce your risk by half
- Scientists (and taxi drivers) may have discovered the secret to beating dementia
- It’s time we rethink how to solve loneliness
About our expert
Dr Scott Campbell Zimmerman is a senior research fellow of epidemiology at Boston University's School of Public Health.
Dr Ashwin Kotwal is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. Kotwal co-leads the Social Connections and Aging lab at UCSF, focusing on the health effects of loneliness and social isolation among older adults.
Dr Ruijia Chen is a Postdoctoral Associate of epidemiology at Boston University's School of Public Health. Her research focuses on how social determinants across the life course contribute to risk and disparities associated with dementia.
Dr Jacqueline Torres is a social epidemiologist and Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco's School of Medicine. Her current research focuses on the role of policies, families and community in shaping population health, particularly in mid- and late-life.
