Loneliness has emerged as a major factor affecting brain health, increasing the likelihood of dementia by more than 30%, regardless of age or gender. This finding comes from a review of 21 long-term studies involving over 600,000 participants worldwide.

Loneliness, marked by dissatisfaction with social connections—has also been linked to early signs of cognitive decline, such as memory lapses or reduced decision-making ability. While both loneliness and dementia affect how the brain functions, dementia is far more disruptive, often interfering with everyday life.

To better understand this link, we spoke with Dr. Gorav Gupta, Senior Psychiatrist and Founder of Tulasi Healthcare, New Delhi, and Dr. Arvind Otta, Senior Psychologist and Mental Health Activist, who offered their insights on the mental and cognitive effects of loneliness.

Can Loneliness Cause Dementia?

Loneliness is more than just a feeling; it can influence both mental well-being and cognitive function. Research from the National Library of Medicine shows a strong connection between social isolation, loneliness, and reduced cognitive abilities in older adults, along with a higher risk of dementia.

Higher Risk of Psychological Disorders

Emotional Strain

Loneliness can cause persistent grief and pain, trapping individuals in cycles of sadness. Dr. Otta says, “This emotional turmoil can worsen anxiety and depression and lead to physical issues like insomnia and chronic fatigue.”

Cognitive Effects

Loneliness has been linked to declines in memory, attention, and executive function. These changes may even reflect structural brain differences, such as reduced volume in areas critical for these abilities.

The Two-Way Relationship Between Loneliness and Brain Health

Loneliness and cognitive decline often reinforce each other. While prolonged isolation can impair brain function, cognitive difficulties may also make social interactions harder, deepening loneliness. Over time, this cycle can lead to significant changes in the brain.

Long-Term Brain Changes

Studies show that loneliness can lead to structural changes, including loss of white matter in the frontal brain regions, which affects memory, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.

How Loneliness Can Lead to Dementia?

Dr. Gorav Gupta explains that chronic loneliness triggers stress in the body, raising cortisol levels and weakening immunity. In the brain, it can shrink regions responsible for memory, decision-making, and social behaviour. Over time, these changes increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, creating a harmful cycle that affects both mind and body.

Key Biological Mechanisms

• Stress Hormones: Persistent loneliness keeps the body in “stress mode,” damaging the hippocampus, vital for memory and learning.
• Brain Inflammation: Isolation can increase inflammation, harming brain cells and promoting plaque and tangle formation, hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Oxidative Stress: Loneliness raises free radicals, accelerating brain ageing.
• Sleep Disruption: Poor sleep impairs the brain’s natural detox process, raising dementia risk.
• Brain Shrinkage: Chronic loneliness lowers growth factors needed for neuroplasticity and brain repair.
• Reduced Blood Flow: Elevated blood pressure from loneliness can limit oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain, affecting memory and cognition.

Early Warning Signs of Loneliness

• Social Withdrawal: Avoiding gatherings, limiting contact with friends or family, or losing interest in relationship.
• Negative Thought Patterns: Persistent sadness, hopelessness, or interpreting neutral social cues as rejection.
• Cognitive Difficulties: Forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, or memory lapses during daily activities.
• Physical Symptoms: Fatigue, disrupted sleep, and changes in appetite often accompany emotional distress.
• Rising Anxiety or Depression: Heightened anxiety or depressive symptoms signal the need for timely intervention.

Spotting these early indicators allows for proactive measures. Addressing loneliness can improve emotional well-being, protect cognitive function, and reduce the long-term risk of dementia.

In the South of USA, the rural areas to be specific, hospitals are few, and are far between. This is where breast cancer patients often have to travel for hours, sometimes even hundreds of miles to seek care, reports CNBC. For many of these patients, a newer treatment called intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) could be life-changing. However, across the US, access to this convenient, which is cost-effective, is now shrinking.

Dr Phillip Ley, reports CNBC, who is a cancer surgeon in Jackson, Mississippi, treats patients who struggle to afford daily travel for weeks of radiation therapy. “I have patients that don’t have enough gas money to go to radiation every day,” he said.

For women who qualify, Dr Ley recommends them IORT, a technique that delivers a single, targeted dose of radiation to breast tissue immediately after a tumor is removed. This happens in the operating room, and spares the patients the need for multiple hospital visits, thus a cheaper alternative.

However, despite the advantages, IORT is disappearing from the US.

Why Is IORT Losing Its Ground In US?

CNBC reported that financial interests could be the reason behind IORT's decline.

As per the Medicare data 2022, radiation oncologists who perform IORT earn $525 per treatment, which is far less than the $1,300 for a five-session course of radiation or $1,730 for 15 sessions. Each additional hospital visit also generates facility fees, which makes the conventional radiation therapy far more profitable.

Dr Let says, "This is about money and greed." In fact a 2018 Frontiers in Oncology study estimated that IORT could save $1.2 billion over five years in U.S. healthcare costs.

Who Is Eligible vs Who Is Not For IORT?

This FDA-approved treatment was first cleared in 1999, however, it is not suitable for everyone. It is best for postmenopausal women, with small, early-stage tumors and no lymph node involvement.

However, research does show that IORT may carry a slightly higher recurrence rate than radiation therapy. Roughly 1 in 5 patients could require a full radiation therapy afterward if additional cancer cells are revealed in pathology results.

Despite this, studies show a similar long-term survival rates, lower mortality from other cancer, a fewer complications like burns or radiation damage to the lungs and heart. Still, the American Society For Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) does not recommend IORT outside clinical trials, citing recurrence concerns.

Dr. Catheryn Yashar, ASTRO’s president-elect, insists the organization’s position is based purely on data, not dollars: “ASTRO’s job is to evaluate the data objectively and give both physicians and patients a framework for decision-making,” reports CNBC.

However, not all doctors agree. Dr Alice Police, a breast surgeon who helped launch three IORT programs in US hospitals says, "“Radiation oncologists are very powerful — they make so much money for hospitals. Even though the data is awesome and the benefit to the patient is enormous, they call it experimental.”

Another barrier is also insurance companies who often refuse to pay for IORT.

However, when patients are asked, they share stories where they returned to work way before than they would have in case of traditional radiation therapy.

Stories Of Relief, Stories Of Frustration

Amy Slaton, 59, from Louisiana shares such experience with CNBC. She says while she had to pay out of pocket, she was able to return to work within two months, far sooner than if she had undergone standard radiation.

Heidi Toplansky, 72, from California, who was diagnosed with cancer in both breasts in 2012, of which only one tumor qualified for IORT has become an advocate for this treatment. “With IORT, it’s 30 minutes with the device in the breast cavity,” she said. “With traditional radiation, you’re burning like a piece of meat on a barbecue grill."Traditional radiation left her with severe scarring, which she later treated with lasers. Still, she says she would choose IORT again in a heartbeat.

A seemingly simple fall can have far-reaching consequences, especially for older adults. New research from Canada tracking 260,000 seniors for 17 years (April 2004-March 2020) reveal a striking link between traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and a heightened risk of developing dementia, shedding light on how a single accident could accelerate cognitive decline.

Can Head Injuries Lead To Dementia?

The study found that older adults who suffered a TBI from any cause had a 69 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia within the next five years compared to those who did not have a TBI. Even after five years, TBI sufferers still had a 56 percent higher risk of a dementia diagnosis.

While the study didn't look at falls specifically, falls are the most common reason for TBIs in older adults, causing an estimated 80 percent of cases.

Researchers emphasized that these falls are in fact preventable. They explained that by targeting fall-related TBIs, there is a huge potential that they can reduce TBI-associated dementia."

Why Do Head Injuries Cause Dementia?

The study authors did not give a specific reason for the link, but previous research suggests two main possibilities.

Direct damage: this suggests that the head injury itself—like bruising or bleeding in the brain can hurt brain cells. This damage might then cause abnormal proteins, which are strongly linked to dementia, to build up faster.

Pre-Existing Conditions: It is also possible that patients who suffer a fall or TBI already have undiagnosed dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). These conditions are known to make falls more likely, and the head trauma may then speed up the disease's progression.

Who Is More At Risk For Dementia Due To Injury?

The research revealed that the risk of dementia after a TBI is not the same for everyone:

Age and Gender

Women aged 75 years or older were found to be the most at risk of developing dementia after suffering a TBI. This may be because women tend to live longer and are more likely to suffer from conditions like muscle weakness or bone thinning (osteoporosis), which increase the risk of falls.

Overall Risk

Among people aged 85 years or older who suffered a TBI, about one in three eventually developed dementia.

Community

Patients who were older and lived in smaller communities and areas with low income and less ethnic diversity were the most likely to be admitted to a nursing home after a TBI.

Why Should We Pay More Attention To TBI?

According to the International Brain Injury Association, injuries to the brain are some of the most dangerous kinds of injuries a person can suffer. They are among the most likely to cause death or permanent disability.

In fact, brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. It is also the main cause of long-term seizure disorders. Because of how serious these injuries are, the World Health Organization (WHO) started tracking them officially in 1993. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major health issue in the United States every year. Today, an estimated 5.3 million Americans are living with disabilities caused by a TBI.

They emphasize that brain injury is a public health concern that requires continued research to find better medical treatments, as well as increased efforts to prevent the injuries from happening in the first place.

Lumps can develop in breast tissue in people of all sexes and genders. If you notice a lump, whether you suspect it might be a cyst, a tumor, or something else, it is important to consult a doctor. While most breast lumps are not cancerous, some noncancerous lumps still need treatment, and only a medical professional can confirm whether a lump is cancerous or not.

To understand the difference, we spoke with Dr. Sumol Ratna, Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at NIIMS Medical College & Hospital.

Breast Cysts vs. Tumors

The most common types of breast lumps are cysts and tumors, and knowing the difference can help reduce worry. Dr. Ratna explains, “A breast cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms within the breast tissue. These are usually non-cancerous and are most often seen in women between 30 and 50, especially after menopause.”

Cysts may appear as a single lump or multiple lumps of varying sizes. Depending on the amount of fluid inside, a cyst may feel soft or firm. Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle can sometimes make them feel larger or slightly tender. Most of the time, cysts do not cause pain, although mild discomfort may occur at the lump site. Diagnosis is usually done via ultrasound, and if a cyst is found, a fine needle aspiration can confirm it contains fluid. Once drained, the cyst typically shrinks or disappears.

A breast tumor, on the other hand, is an abnormal growth of cells in the breast. Dr Ratna said, “Tumors may be benign or malignant. Benign tumors, such as fibroadenomas, are solid, well-defined, and do not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors, however, are cancerous and can invade nearby tissues or organs.” Tumors are generally hard, irregularly shaped, and fixed in place. They may sometimes cause changes like skin dimpling or fluid from the nipple, but pain is usually not present.

Types of Breast Cysts

• Simple cysts: Completely filled with fluid, always noncancerous, with thin, smooth walls.
• Complex cysts: Have thick, irregular walls and may contain some solid mass or debris. Doctors may drain fluid to test for abnormalities and rule out cancer.
• Complicated cysts: Combine features of simple and complex cysts. They usually have thin, smooth walls but may contain small amounts of debris.

How Doctors Tell the Difference

Doctors use a range of tests to determine whether a tumor is benign or malignant. Cysts are generally smooth and movable, while tumors tend to be hard and fixed. Ultrasound is commonly used for diagnosing cysts, whereas tumors usually require mammograms and biopsies.

While both cysts and tumors can appear as single lumps, their characteristics and implications are very different. Any noticeable change in the breast shape, or discharge from the nipple, should prompt a visit to a breast specialist. Early evaluation is key to peace of mind and proper treatment.