Childhood loneliness may have lifelong consequences, with new research showing it significantly increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in adulthood.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that individuals who reported feeling lonely or lacking close friendships before the age of 17 were more likely to develop dementia later in life, even if they no longer felt lonely as adults.
Professor Andrea Wigfield, Director of the Centre for Loneliness Studies at Sheffield Hallam University, said the findings reinforce what is already known about the harmful impact of social isolation. “Given what we already know about the link between adult loneliness and the increased risk of cognitive decline, it is not surprising that loneliness in childhood has now been linked to dementia in later life,” she said.
She added that the quality of emotional attachment and friendships built in childhood play a vital role in shaping mental health and resilience into adulthood.
The loneliest generation
The findings come at a time when loneliness is increasingly common among younger people. A recent Oxfam poll revealed that nearly half of Gen Z in the UK, aged between 13 and 28, report feelings of loneliness. Experts warn that this generation faces higher risks of despair and anxiety compared to previous generations.
Traditionally, loneliness has been most associated with older adults. However, Wigfield highlighted that young adults aged 18–24 are now among the most affected, alongside growing evidence of loneliness in mid-life groups aged 45–65.
Covid-19 and rising childhood loneliness
Rates of childhood loneliness have been studied more extensively since the Covid-19 pandemic, when isolation and restrictions disrupted social interactions. Wigfield noted that “the way children play and form meaningful relationships at a young age clearly has wider health implications beyond their experiences of loneliness.”
The NSPCC’s Childline reported more than 4,500 counselling sessions about loneliness last year, showing the scale of the issue. Director Shaun Friekl stressed: “Loneliness is a challenging thing to deal with, and left unaddressed can have a wider impact on mental health and wellbeing.”
Public health implications
The research drew on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, defining childhood loneliness as frequent self-reported absence of friendships. The authors urged governments and health organisations to launch early prevention efforts, arguing that “public health initiatives aimed at preventing and reducing loneliness should begin in early life to mitigate its long-term implications for cognitive health.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, social engagement may help strengthen the brain’s resilience against dementia. The charity estimates that 982,000 people in the UK are currently living with the disease, a figure expected to rise sharply in the coming years.
