Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Benjamin A. Shaw, Tse-Chuan Yang, Seulki Kim
Summary: Living alone during old age is associated with an increased risk of dementia. Measuring long-term exposure to living alone provides a better understanding of its impact on dementia. Accumulated time living alone is correlated with a higher likelihood of developing dementia.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Jiaqing Yang, Jing Huang, Xinggang Yang, Shen Li, Xin Wu, Xuelei Ma
Summary: This meta-analysis revealed the correlation between living alone, social isolation, and sarcopenia. Gender differences can help identify high-risk groups for sarcopenia and reduce healthcare expenditures. As a further development of living alone, social isolation may play a more significant role in sarcopenia.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Georgaca Eugenie, Anastasopoulos Odysseas, Stamovlasis Dimitrios, Zissi Anastasia, Peppou Lily Evangelia, Arvaniti Aikaterini, Samakouri Maria, Stylianidis Stelios
Summary: This study examines the role of living alone, low social support, and severe psychopathology in involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. The results suggest that living alone is a sufficient but not necessary condition for involuntary admission, and when combined with poor social indicators, it increases the odds for involuntary admission.
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Feifei Bu, Andrew Steptoe, Daisy Fancourt
Summary: This study identified latent clustering of cardiovascular risk factors among adults aged 50+, showing how risk factors cluster together and how the risk patterns are related to social factors. Loneliness was found to be associated with a higher risk of certain classes, while social disengagement and living alone were also differentially associated with latent class memberships. The findings offer important implications for clinical practice and preventive interventions in cardiovascular disease.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mark Olfson, Candace M. Cosgrove, Sean F. Altekruse, Melanie M. Wall, Carlos Blanco
Summary: This study evaluated the association between living alone and suicide, and how it varies across sociodemographic characteristics. The results showed that individuals living alone had a higher annual suicide rate compared to those living with others. The risk of suicide associated with living alone varied across different sociodemographic groups, with higher risk observed among individuals with higher income and education levels.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Li Cheng, Janet W. H. Sit, Helen Y. L. Chan, Kai Chow Choi, Regina K. Y. Cheung, Martin M. H. Wong, Francis Y. K. Li, Tin Yan Lee, Elina S. M. Fung, Keen Man Tai, Winnie K. W. So
Summary: This study assessed the risk of sarcopenia and probable sarcopenia among Chinese community-dwelling older adults living alone, finding a high prevalence of these conditions. Malnutrition and physical activity level were closely associated with sarcopenia risk.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mark Olfson, Candace M. Cosgrove, Sean F. Altekruse, Melanie M. Wall, Carlos Blanco
Summary: There is an association between living alone and suicide, and this association varies across different sociodemographic characteristics. The strongest association between living alone and suicide is found among adults with the highest levels of income and education. However, the results cannot establish a causal relationship between living alone and suicide due to the lack of control for psychiatric disorders in the study.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Achamyeleh Birhanu Teshale, Htet Lin Htun, Jessie Hu, Lachlan L. Dalli, Michelle H. Lim, Barbara Barbosa Neves, J. R. Baker, Aung Zaw Zaw Phyo, Christopher M. Reid, Joanne Ryan, Alice J. Owen, Sharyn M. Fitzgerald, Rosanne Freak-Poli
Summary: Social health is closely related to cardiovascular disease, potentially mediated through its shared risk factors. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between social health and cardiovascular disease are poorly understood. Further research is needed to determine whether targeting certain social health constructs may directly improve cardiovascular disease risk factors.
ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
Daolin Wu, Fuwei Liu, Shan Huang
Summary: This study based on longitudinal studies found that living alone increases the risk of depression compared to living with others. More high-quality studies will be required in the future to confirm this causal association.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jessica G. Abell, Andrew Steptoe
Summary: The study found an association between living alone and mortality, especially for individuals who transitioned to living alone after divorce or bereavement. Those who transitioned to living alone for other reasons did not show an increased risk of mortality.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jun Hyuk Koo, Noorhee Son, Ki-Bong Yoo
Summary: This study found that depressive symptoms gradually decreased with prolonged periods of living alone among the elderly in South Korea. Both males and females exhibited a significant increase in depressive symptoms when they started living alone, which then decreased over time. The subgroup analysis revealed that females and the old-old group had higher odds of depressive symptoms in the first 3 years of living alone, while males and the young-old group showed higher odds only in the first year.
ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Mark Ward, Peter May, Charles Normand, Rose Anne Kenny, Anne Nolan
Summary: This study found that social asymmetry (the combination of loneliness and social isolation) was associated with an increased mortality risk among older adults, especially in the concordant high lonely and discordant robust groups.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Soyoung Park, Kyuhyoung Jeong, Seoyoon Lee
Summary: This longitudinal study examines the relationship between depression and cognitive function changes in older individuals living alone in South Korea. The findings indicate that depression levels increase gradually, while cognitive function declines over time. Higher initial depression levels are associated with lower initial cognitive function levels and a more rapid cognitive decline over time.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Mehmet Kanbay, Cem Tanriover, Sidar Copur, Ibrahim B. B. Peltek, Ali Mutlu, Francesca Mallamaci, Carmine Zoccali
Summary: Social isolation and loneliness are often overlooked conditions that have a negative impact on quality of life, overall health, and mortality. This review discusses the health consequences of these conditions, including potential causes, pathophysiological processes, associations with non-communicable diseases, and effects on health-related behaviors. It also explores current and novel management strategies. Healthcare professionals should be knowledgeable about social isolation and loneliness, thoroughly assess patients, and provide education and treatment options through shared decision-making. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms and improve treatment strategies for these conditions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Charlotte Salmon, Amelie Quesnel-Vallee, Marie-Elise Parent
Summary: Social isolation is associated with poor prognosis and increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. This study found that single men had a higher risk of high-grade prostate cancer, while having at least one daughter was associated with a lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer. The number of people living with the subject was inversely related to prostate cancer risk. Further research is needed to confirm these novel findings.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2023)