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Alone in the Mind: Review of Research Examining the Link Between Loneliness and Dementia
Ahmed Hussein Al‐Samiry, Samer Imad Mohammed, Ahmed Majid Hammed, Tayf M. Maryoosh. Medicine Advances, 2025-03-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
ABSTRACT This narrative review focused on research investigating the impact of loneliness on the prevalence of dementia and its relationship with other risk factors. A comprehensive and rigorous search was conducted using a variety of scientific databases with specific keywords to identify all prior studies that examined the correlation between dementia and loneliness. The inquiry was confined to articles published in English from January 2017 to March 2024. The narrative review identified a consensus regarding the role of loneliness in enhancing the risk of all‐cause dementia, with a particular emphasis on the subjective perception of loneliness. This phenomenon may be caused by the sensations of exclusion, discrimination, and alienation that are typically associated with low self‐esteem and low life satisfaction, which may contribute to cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms. This finding was obtained despite the absence of robust evidence regarding the involvement of loneliness in the pathogenesis of dementia. Existing research has not yet identified a correlation between hereditary factors that influence the development of dementia and feelings of loneliness. However, loneliness is strongly associated with depression, which is a potential risk factor for dementia. Previous studies have reported a moderate correlation between depression and loneliness, as individuals who are isolated and lack a sense of community exhibit higher levels of depression. Meditation, social cognitive training, and social support are three strategies that have been implemented to address loneliness and are reported to be the most effective interventions. A strong correlation exists between dementia and loneliness. Although such strategies are unlikely to impede the progression of the disease if cognitive deterioration is already underway, understanding these associations can assist in the development of strategies to alleviate the effects of loneliness on vulnerable individuals.
Key findings
- This phenomenon may be caused by the sensations of exclusion, discrimination, and alienation that are typically associated with low self‐esteem and low life satisfaction, which may contribute to cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms.
- However, loneliness is strongly associated with depression, which is a potential risk factor for dementia.
Why it matters
This narrative review found a consensus that loneliness is linked to higher risk of all-cause dementia, especially subjective loneliness. It found no robust evidence that loneliness causes dementia, and no link was identified between hereditary factors and loneliness.
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Study details
- Study designnarrative review
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 29/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 28 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 29 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Medicine Advances) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Medicine Advances: journal h-index 16 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | Design recorded as “narrative review”, which our rubric does not rank (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Tayf M. Maryoosh holds only 1 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Baghdad: institution h-index 183 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 28 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 28 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 29 out of 100. |
| Total | 29 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Al‐Samiry, A. H., Mohammed, S. I., Hammed, A. M., & Maryoosh, T. M. (2025). Alone in the Mind: Review of Research Examining the Link Between Loneliness and Dementia. Medicine Advances. https://doi.org/10.1002/med4.70005
Vancouver
Al‐Samiry AH, Mohammed SI, Hammed AM, Maryoosh TM. Alone in the Mind: Review of Research Examining the Link Between Loneliness and Dementia. Medicine Advances. 2025. doi:10.1002/med4.70005.
BibTeX
@article{alsamiry2025-9b75b35d,
author = {Al‐Samiry, Ahmed Hussein and Mohammed, Samer Imad and Hammed, Ahmed Majid and Maryoosh, Tayf M.},
title = {{Alone in the Mind: Review of Research Examining the Link Between Loneliness and Dementia}},
journal = {Medicine Advances},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/med4.70005},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/med4.70005}
}
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