Childhood Loneliness and Cognitive Decline and Dementia Risk in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Is childhood loneliness associated with cognitive decline and incident dementia?In this cohort study of 13 592 participants, childhood loneliness was associated with faster cognitive decline and higher risk of incident dementia in middle and later adulthood. Adult loneliness was associated with mediating 8.5% of the association with cognitive decline and 17.2% of the association with dementia risk but did not significantly modify these associations.These findings suggest that childhood loneliness may serve as an independent risk factor for later-life cognitive decline and dementia, highlighting the need for early interventions to mitigate its long-term implications for cognitive health throughout the life course.

Corresponding Author: Xiuhua Guo, PhD, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environment and Aging, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, No. 10 Xitoutiao, You’anmen Wai Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100069, China (statguo@ccmu.edu.cn).

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