The Effect of Social Isolation on Elder Cognitive, Psychological, and Physical Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.446Keywords:
Social isolation, Loneliness, Elderly, CVD, Alzheimer's Disease, DepressionAbstract
Previous studies have concluded that as individuals get older, they become more prone to experiencing loneliness due to significant economical, social, and cognitive changes in their lives. For instance, older adults are more likely to experience more loss in their social network and become reluctant to initiate new networks. Social isolation and loneliness are two major factors damaging elderly adults’ health. With the population of elders aged 60 years and older increasing, it is important to understand the root cause of detrimental senior health outcomes in order to minimize its effects. Despite this, seniors’ health is often neglected compared to other age groups. Due to lack of sufficient and cohesive data, there is a need for a comprehensive review, such as this paper, to gain a better understanding. The objective of this paper is to analyze the correlation between social isolation of elders and various health issues. Loneliness and social deprivation of elders significantly increase the likelihood of psychological, cognitive, and physical health issues, such as depression, dementia, and cardiovascular diseases.
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