Loneliness Could Boost Alzheimer's Risk

[KamaAina]

Oh, crap, am I screwn!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20070206/hl_hsn/lonelinesscouldboostalzheimersrisk

TUESDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Being lonely may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life, new research suggests.

Researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago assessed loneliness and dementia in 823 people, averaging almost 81 years of age, for up to four years. At the start of the study, the participants' overall average loneliness score was 2.3 on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5....

According to the researchers, each point of increase on the loneliness score was associated with about a 51 percent increased risk of developing Alzheimer's.

This would mean that a person with a high loneliness score (3.2) would be about 2.1 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's than someone with a low score (1.4), they said.

Eurghh. My score would be about a 4.97 at this point. :scared:

[devilgrrl]

1. Oh no. That means we all have to socialize and be perky 24/7

:sarcasm:

What a pile of bollocks.

[question everything]

2. Oh wonderful. It is bad enough that one is lonely

but now one is being "punished" for that.

I remember a decade, or so, ago, when chances of beating cancer were higher when one had a "positive" mind set. So if the doctor tells you "sorry, you have cancer" you cannot be depressed, or angry, or just weepy. No, you have to be cheerful otherwise it is what, your fault?

:hide:

[kestrel91316]

3. I happen to like my rather solitary home life.

Of course, I have to put up with demands from hysterical and nitpicky and neurotic cat owners during the day. I get PLENTY of human contact at work.

When I go home I like the peace and quiet. I have always been happy to "play by myself", as long as I can remember.

[LSparkle]

5. Me too

I think your attitude toward being alone is key -- I don't consider myself "lonely," just "enjoying my solitude." And I can choose to be with people if I want (I just don't often want to, apart from work). I paint and write and keep up with politics and news, so I'm not bored, which is part of when loneliness may kick in.

[treestar]

4. Ronnie Raygun wasn't lonely

And he got it!

Though maybe hanging out with Nancy was similar to hanging out alone.

[depakid]

6. That's pretty much a no brainer

Lonely people lack stimulus- and when the brain starts getting older, there's a certain element of "use it or lose it involved."

People lacking physical contact and interaction are more likely to use it- seems pretty intuitive to me.

[bryant69]

7. Oy - that's just what I needed

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[izzie]

8. I have lived alone for years and never feel very lonely.

Once in a while it feels a little lonely but the odd thing is I always felt lonely when I was married. It is like once or twice a year I think why am I alone and wish some one else was around. It passes very fast. Maybe it has already got to me this sickness of old age.

[sandnsea]

9. Lonely, or agoraphobic??

I say that because a family friend has Alzheimer's and also had agoraphobia issues at least at one point in her life. Maybe something that goes wrong in brain chemistry in agoraphobics and those with anxiety disorders has something to do with Alzheimer's. :shrug:

[DURHAM D]

10. I don't know - both of my parents have it.

They have been attached at the hip for over 67 years. Guarantee you neither one of them has ever been lonely for a second during their adult life.