Loneliness in Old Age Reduces Life Expectancy and Healthspan

Researchers from Singapore and Japan have quantified for the first time the impact of loneliness on life expectancy and quality of life in older adults. The study, led by Duke-NUS Medical School, found that lonely older adults live an average of 2–5 years less than their non-lonely peers.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, also indicate that loneliness affects remaining healthy years. According to the research, lonely 60-year-olds can expect to live 3–5 fewer years without limitations in daily activities compared to non-lonely counterparts.

The study draws on extensive data from Singapore, where one-third of individuals over 60 reported experiencing loneliness. Loneliness has become a global concern as populations age, and measures during the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the issue.

These results highlight the seriousness of loneliness as a public health issue and the need for strategies to address it among the aging demographic.