Causes of demential Psychology Essay Research Paper (Essay Sample)

Effects of Loneliness on the Elderly
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Abstract
Literature that exists seems to ascertain that loneliness increases the chances of individual developing dementia. Even though that is the case, there is a data gap when it comes to explaining exactly how isolation contributes to dementia among older adults. Hence, this paper seeks first to introduce a popular press article that supports this argument. After that, the paper aims at critically reviewing the popular press article by consulting other scholarly sources that offer in-depth analysis of the link between being lonely and dementia among older adults. In the end, the study will be able to give additional perspectives about this topic related to aging. Thus, it will conclude whether most scholars ascertain the notion provided by the popular press article.
Introduction
Recent studies have attempted to highlight the causes of dementia among older adults. In essence, dementia can be defined as a disease that inhibits the cognitive functions of the brain. For older adults, the condition seems severe and increasing day by day. Hence, scholars have turned their attention to older adults’ loneliness, a factor considered to be among the significant causes of late-life dementia. In that regard, a press article written by the Daily Times (2018) highlights that researchers have started to associate loneliness to dementia among older adults, in detail, this popular article alludes that researchers from Florida State University have carried out a survey that depicts that older adults who feel lonely have a high prevalence of Dementia. This news article consulted a study tied to the United States government, with a sample of 12, 030 participants, who were all fifty years old or over. Through the research highlighted by popular press article, 1104 older people out of the total participants were found to develop dementia. The study consulted by the popular source measured the risk of dementia by carrying out cognitive assessment tests of the participants, coupled with social isolation tests. Even though the article does not specify how it elucidates that being lonely is a risk factor for dementia in later life.