2023-07-18 12:00:00
Older people who have few social contacts may be more likely to have brain volume loss in areas of the brain affected by dementia. – Credit:JIMMY BEUNARDEAU / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
More than 55 million people are affected by dementia in the world, according to the figures of the world health organization. In 60 to 70% of cases, Alzheimer’s disease is its origin. But this term covers several diseases that affect memory, thinking and the ability to perform daily tasks. Currently, dementia is the seventh leading cause of death. If there is no remedy to relieve it, it is important to identify it as early as possible in order to improve the quality of life of patients and their loved ones.
Japanese researchers have studied the brains of people with dementia. According to a study published on July 12, 2023, older people who have little social contact are more likely to have brain volume loss in areas of the brain affected by dementia. These findings have been published online in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. However, the scientific team stresses that these findings do not prove that social isolation causes brain shrinkage, but only reveal an association.
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