Research summary
Our population is aging at an unprecedented rate. As a result, the incidence of dementia is expected to double within the next decade—and older adults who are socially isolated or lonely are more likely to develop this illness. Research suggests that targeting these risk factors could prevent up to 40 percent of dementia cases.
As Canada Research Chair in Aging and Long-Term Care, Dr. Natasha Gallant is investigating social isolation and loneliness as modifiable risk factors for dementia in older adults. To do this, she and her research team are comparing older adults with and without dementia who experience social isolation and loneliness. They are investigating how these older adults express feelings of loneliness when they are alone compared to when they are with others. Ultimately, Gallant’s goal is to establish ways to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults, with a focus on people with dementia who are living in long-term care facilities.