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Self-perceived loneliness on cognitive functioning and on self-perceived cognitive abilities in aging
Sonia Montemurro1, Radu Valentin Camenita1, Giulia Sebastianutto1
1Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Frontiers in Medicine
|March 23, 2026
Summary
Loneliness in older adults negatively impacts cognitive performance and self-perceived cognitive abilities. Even with preserved cognitive function, loneliness leads to underestimation of one
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychosocial Health
Background:
- Loneliness is a recognized psychosocial factor affecting cognitive performance in older adults.
- Understanding the dual impact of loneliness on objective cognitive function and subjective self-perception is crucial for geriatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between self-perceived loneliness and actual cognitive performance in healthy older adults.
- To examine how loneliness influences older adults' self-perceived cognitive abilities and their self-evaluation of cognitive efficiency.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 510 healthy older adults (aged 64-103 years) participated.
- Self-perceived loneliness was measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale-3.
- Cognitive performance was assessed via the Global Examination of Mental State (GEMS), and self-perceived cognitive efficiency using SMAC.
Main Results:
- Higher levels of perceived loneliness were significantly associated with poorer cognitive performance (B = -1.18, p < 0.001).
- Increased loneliness correlated with lower self-perceived cognitive efficiency (B = 2.48, p < 0.001).
- Loneliness demonstrated a tendency to cause underestimation of cognitive abilities, even when performance was average (F = 9.75, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Loneliness in older adults significantly impacts both cognitive performance and the perception of one's cognitive abilities.
- Interventions addressing loneliness may be vital for maintaining accurate self-assessment of cognitive resources in the elderly, even when cognitive function is otherwise intact.
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