Public Health.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Loneliness is a known risk factor for cognitive decline and poor health in older adults, including those with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• Limited research has explored the interplay of loneliness and perceived stress in individuals across the cognitive spectrum, with and without AD.
• This study aimed to assess the association between loneliness and perceived stress in older adults with varying cognitive statuses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between loneliness and perceived stress in older adults.
• To examine differences in loneliness and perceived stress based on Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptom status.
• To explore the relationship between loneliness severity and cognitive status in older adults.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 136 older adults (96 asymptomatic, 40 symptomatic for AD).
• Participants completed cognitive testing, the UCLA Loneliness Survey, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).
• Multivariable regression analysis was used, controlling for age, sex, education, depression symptoms, and social isolation.

Main Results:

• The majority of participants reported moderate to high levels of loneliness.
• Loneliness severity was significantly associated with AD symptom status (p=0.016), with higher loneliness linked to asymptomatic status.
• No statistically significant association was found between loneliness severity and perceived stress (p=0.10).

Conclusions:

• Loneliness is common among older adults, irrespective of cognitive status.
• Increased loneliness severity is significantly associated with the absence of AD symptoms.
• The lack of association between loneliness and perceived stress may highlight the role of other factors, such as social support.