Published April 14, 2026 12:03AM
We’ve all had moments when we walk into a room to grab something and completely forget what it is we needed. Usually, we blame it on stress or just getting older.
But according to a new study released today, April 14, in the journal Aging and Mental Health, the real culprit might be loneliness. That’s right, social isolation may negatively affect the memories of older adults, leading researchers to suggest that the loneliness epidemic is a legitimate threat to the brain’s wiring. Socializing and engaging with groups in the outdoors are great ways to feel less alone in the world, according to therapists. Here’s what to know.
How Did the Researchers Test Memory Ability?
The study authors tracked seven years of data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe, which surveyed more than 10,000 older adults aged 65 to 94 who had no history of cognitive decline.
To test memory ability, people were asked to remember as many words from a ten-word list as quickly as possible immediately after researchers read the list aloud to them. They had one minute to recite all the words they did remember. Then they were asked to do it again, after one minute, and then a third time after five minutes. The researchers distracted participants during those time blocks to ensure people didn’t rehearse the words.
What Does It Really Mean to Be Lonely?
The researchers measured participants’ levels of loneliness, defined as “feeling alone,” and grouped them into three buckets: low, average, or high. Ninety-two percent of participants reported average or low levels of loneliness; eight percent reported high levels. The group with high levels of loneliness was mostly female and also reported depression and health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes.
It’s worth noting that because people self-reported their level of loneliness and health issues, there could be discrepancies in the data. Another limitation is that the researchers treated people’s loneliness levels as unchanging. In reality, though, people can feel more or less alone at many points in their lives.
The results? While those with the highest levels of loneliness performed worse in initial memory tests compared to those with low or average levels, everyone’s ability to remember information declined at a similar rate over the course of the seven years.
The Link Between Loneliness and Memory
“This new research shows something interesting,” says Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and the author of The Mental Strength Playbook. “Loneliness seems to affect the baseline state of memory, but doesn’t necessarily accelerate memory decline over time. That means lonely people start from a lower point [of memory recall], but don’t necessarily deteriorate faster as time goes on.”
The relationship between memory and loneliness isn’t a clear path, Morin adds. It’s possible the side effects of loneliness—depression, reduced activity, and poorer health—may cause memory issues, she says.
The Case for Socializing More
Socialization is a key factor in wellbeing, according to Morin. Not only can social activities ward off loneliness, but they also boost happiness and even increase longevity, she says. “When you’re interacting with others, your brain gets a bit of a workout as it processes information, remembers key details, reads social cues, and formulates responses,” she says. So it stands to reason that social isolation does the opposite.
“Humans are a social species. Ignoring the need for socialization is like ignoring our need for food, water, shelter, and rest,” adds Mitchell Hale, a therapist at Sawtelle Psychotherapy Group, a behavioral change practice. “Socialization is important at any age. However, older adults are at higher risk for social isolation, and thus loneliness, due to lifestyle factors such as mobility challenges, chronic illness, deaths of friends and partners, or living alone. These risk factors, among others, highlight the need for increased vigilance for the social needs of older adults within our own lives and in our communities.”
Both Men and Women Get Lonely. They Just Cope Differently.
According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, approximately one in six Americans feels lonely, and similar numbers of women and men report experiencing loneliness, but women often have more people to rely on, like partners, parents, friends, and therapists. Men often rely on their partners for emotional support.
“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why women seem to utilize a broader social support group than men, but there is debate that how men are socialized may be a factor,” Hale says. “Men can feel pressured to conform to traditional expectations for masculinity—such as emotional repression, aggression, and a hesitancy to express vulnerability—which create barriers to connecting on a deeper level to others.”
Meeting People Doing Things You Already Enjoy Is the Best Way to Feel Less Lonely
One of the best ways to increase socialization is to anchor your social connections to something you already enjoy doing, according to Morin. If you love cycling, pickleball, hiking, or running, those communities already exist and are often quite welcoming to new people, she explains. And Hale says to start investing in these social circles as early as possible.
“When you focus on something you enjoy, the conversation flows more easily, and the relationship develops more naturally,” Morin says. “Creating friendships with people who share common interests also means that spending time together takes less effort. You don’t have to set aside a specific time to spend together. Instead, you can just go do the activities you love with another, and that can feel easier than scheduling a regular coffee meetup.”
Spending at Least Ten Minutes Outdoors Can Boost Your Mental Health
Spending time outside with others offers an additional benefit: nature can boost your mood and reduce stress, according to both Hale and Morin. When you combine an outdoor activity with a social activity, you get the rewards of both.
Previous research, like this 2018 review in Behavioral Sciences and this 2020 review in Frontiers in Psychology, supports this, citing that time in nature can decrease stress, anxiety, and depression. The 2020 review suggests that even just ten to 20 minutes outdoors, whether walking or sitting on a park bench, will boost mental health.
If You Feel Anxious in Social Settings, Keep This in Mind
“For older adults, a walking group or an outdoor club can ward off loneliness while also giving them added mental and physical health benefits,” Morin says. “People who struggle to make conversation or who feel socially awkward may feel more comfortable in an outdoor setting.” This is due in part to the natural sounds you hear in green spaces, which can make silence feel less awkward, she says. Also, if you go on a walk with a friend, you’re not necessarily looking right at them the entire time, which can ease nerves, too.
As a bonus, according to Morin, all of the animals, new faces, and trees that you run into will make for excellent conversation material.
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