Population aging is one of the most important demographic transformations of the twenty-first century. Alongside increased longevity, older adults face growing challenges related to social participation, mental health, cognitive functioning, and quality of life. Loneliness and social isolation have emerged as major public health concerns because of their associations with frailty, depression, cognitive decline, disability, and all-cause mortality. Although loneliness reflected the subjective perception of insufficient social relationships and social isolation referred to objective deficits in social connections, both frequently coexisted and interacted within the broader biopsychosocial framework of aging.
Editorial: Tracing loneliness in aging: understanding the interplay and exploring innovative interventions
Altamura, Mario;Bellomo, Antonello;
2026-01-01
Abstract
Population aging is one of the most important demographic transformations of the twenty-first century. Alongside increased longevity, older adults face growing challenges related to social participation, mental health, cognitive functioning, and quality of life. Loneliness and social isolation have emerged as major public health concerns because of their associations with frailty, depression, cognitive decline, disability, and all-cause mortality. Although loneliness reflected the subjective perception of insufficient social relationships and social isolation referred to objective deficits in social connections, both frequently coexisted and interacted within the broader biopsychosocial framework of aging.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
