An unexpected result was obtained by scientists from the University of Zurich. They found that some amount of loneliness can be good for older people's well-being.
It is well known that social isolation and loneliness have a devastating effect on people, especially the elderly. In the absence of communication and social contacts, they rapidly lose intellectual skills, which is why they face an increased risk of a wide variety of cognitive impairments, up to the development of dementia. And now scientists from the University of Zurich have found that a certain amount of loneliness for the health of an elderly person can be beneficial.
It became clear how loneliness is useful for a person
They asked 118 men and women over 65 to use an app that could log all social interactions for three weeks. It turned out that the more time people were alone, the more the next time they spent on communication. The study showed that even older people need some time in silence to, as they say, recharge their batteries after interacting with other people.
Single people are thinner
Solitude is an integral part of the daily life of older people, it helps restore energy, as the researchers assure. And loneliness should not be categorically avoided, it is only important that it is not overwhelming for a person. (READ MORE)
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University of Zurich
Medicine
State University in Zurich, the largest university in Switzerland, which currently has over 26,000 students