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Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A potential risk factor for post-pandemic cognitive decline in older adults without dementia
Alaa Harb, Juliana Nery Souza‐Talarico, Grace Willey, Fernanda Carini da Silva, Maria Clara Ferreira de Jesus, Jennifer DeBerg. Dementia & Neuropsychologia, 2025-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
A total of eight studies were included from 1,384 search results, reviewing data from 10,449 cognitively unimpaired older adults. A total of six studies found significant associations between loneliness or social isolation and subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Only one study linked loneliness to lower objective cognitive performance. Notably, half of the studies considered key covariates, such as depression, which could mediate the relationship between loneliness and cognitive decline. Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic is linked to SCD in older adults, though objective evidence is limited. The pandemic underscored the long-term impact of social isolation on cognition and mental health, highlighting the need for standardized neuropsychological tools and key covariates in studies to identify those at risk.
Key findings
- A total of eight studies were included from 1,384 search results, reviewing data from 10,449 cognitively unimpaired older adults.
- A total of six studies found significant associations between loneliness or social isolation and subjective cognitive decline (SCD).
- Only one study linked loneliness to lower objective cognitive performance.
- Notably, half of the studies considered key covariates, such as depression, which could mediate the relationship between loneliness and cognitive decline.
- Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic is linked to SCD in older adults, though objective evidence is limited.
Why it matters
This review found that loneliness or social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic was linked to subjective cognitive decline in older adults, but only one study linked it to lower objective cognitive performance. It highlights the need for better tools and consideration of factors like depression, and does not show that reducing loneliness prevents dementia.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 35/100
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.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Dementia & Neuropsychologia) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Dementia & Neuropsychologia: journal h-index 58 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (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 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.5× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Jennifer DeBerg: h-index 10 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Iowa: institution h-index 1,080 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40469238) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 35 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1590/1980-5764-dn-2024-0256
- PubMed: 40469238
- Original source →
- Free full text: Dementia & Neuropsychologia →
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
Harb, A., Souza‐Talarico, J. N., Willey, G., da Silva, F. C., de Jesus, M. C. F., & DeBerg, J. (2025). Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A potential risk factor for post-pandemic cognitive decline in older adults without dementia. Dementia & Neuropsychologia. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5764-dn-2024-0256
Vancouver
Harb A, Souza‐Talarico JN, Willey G, da Silva FC, de Jesus MCF, DeBerg J. Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A potential risk factor for post-pandemic cognitive decline in older adults without dementia. Dementia & Neuropsychologia. 2025. doi:10.1590/1980-5764-dn-2024-0256. PMID: 40469238.
BibTeX
@article{harb2025-40469238,
author = {Harb, Alaa and Souza‐Talarico, Juliana Nery and Willey, Grace and da Silva, Fernanda Carini and de Jesus, Maria Clara Ferreira and DeBerg, Jennifer},
title = {{Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A potential risk factor for post-pandemic cognitive decline in older adults without dementia}},
journal = {Dementia \& Neuropsychologia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1590/1980-5764-dn-2024-0256},
pmid = {40469238},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5764-dn-2024-0256}
}
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