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Exploring the influence of loneliness on cognitive decline: differential effects in Black and White older adults

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  • Qing Lin
  • Mahsa Dadar
  • Michael Oliver
  • Lisa L Barnes
  • Cassandra Morrison

Abstract

ObjectivesLoneliness is prevalent among older adults, who may experience age-related or pathological cognitive changes. However, there’s a limited understanding of how loneliness affects cognitive decline and if the relationship differs by race. This study investigates the impact of loneliness on cognitive decline among Black and White older adults.Methods3,082 participants with 20,882 follow-ups over 10 years were included from the RUSH RADC cohorts. Participants were categorized as having high or low loneliness based on a median split of de Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale scores. Participants were divided into four groups based on race (White vs. Black) and loneliness status (high vs. low): (1) White-high (n = 1,030), (2) White-low (n = 913), (3) Black-high (n = 493), (4) Black-low (n = 646). Linear mixed-effects models were employed to examine group differences in cognitive change over time (global cognition, episodic memory, semantic memory, perceptual speed, visuospatial ability, and working memory).ResultsWhite adults with high loneliness exhibited increased rates of cognitive decline across all domains (p

Suggested Citation

  • Qing Lin & Mahsa Dadar & Michael Oliver & Lisa L Barnes & Cassandra Morrison, 2025. "Exploring the influence of loneliness on cognitive decline: differential effects in Black and White older adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 80(11), pages 156.-156..
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:80:y:2025:i:11:p:gbaf156.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbaf156
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