This Combination May Speed Up Memory Decline in Older Adults: Study Finds

The researchers used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a large-scale longitudinal study tracking adults over 50 since 2002. Participants regularly underwent cognitive assessments, including memory tests, while providing information on their social connections and personal feelings of loneliness.

The team identified three distinct profiles: people who are both socially isolated and feel lonely; those who are not socially isolated but still feel lonely; and those who are socially isolated but do not feel lonely. They found that cognitive decline was particularly pronounced in individuals who were not socially isolated but still reported loneliness and had hearing loss.

The study emphasizes the importance of early and preventive hearing care, particularly for emotionally vulnerable groups. “These individuals are already socially integrated, so it's a matter of removing a sensory barrier in order to reinforce their engagement and protect their cognitive health,” said lead author Charikleia Lampraki.

Reference: Charikleia Lampraki, Sascha Zuber, Nora Turoman, Emilie Joly-Burra, Melanie Mack, Gianvito Laera, Chiara Scarampi, Adriana Rostekova, Matthias Kliegel, Andreas Ihle. Profiles of social isolation and loneliness as moderators of the longitudinal association between uncorrected hearing impairment and cognitive aging. Communications Psychology, 2025; 3 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s44271-025-00277-8