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Loneliness and social isolation may affect brain health among women entering menopause
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Loneliness and social isolation independently affect cognitive decline
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They also have a synergistic effect on brain health
MONDAY, March 16, 2026 (NewsDay News) – Loneliness can affect a woman’s brain health as she begins menopause, a new study says.
Loneliness and social isolation both contribute to the cognitive decline a woman experiences as she transitions to menopause, researchers recently reported in the Journal. Menopause.
Furthermore, the researchers found that women who experienced both loneliness and social isolation were at greater risk of brain decline.
The study found that moderate to severe loneliness combined with social isolation increased a woman’s risk of cognitive decline by eight times, while mild loneliness combined with social isolation almost tripled her risk.
“Our study showed that loneliness and social isolation were not only not associated with subjective cognitive decline, but also showed a joint relationship in perimenopausal women,” concluded the research team led by senior researcher Ping Leea professor at the School of Nursing and Rehabilitation at Shandong University in China.
“These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors in cognitive health during the menopausal transition,” the researchers added.
For the new study, researchers followed more than 900 women during perimenopause—the time before menopause. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
During this period, estrogen levels begin to fluctuate and women experience symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep problems.
Participants filled out online questionnaires to measure their feelings of loneliness, while their social isolation was assessed using a scale that measures the size of a person’s social networks.
The researchers compared these results with the women’s brain power levels, including memory, attention and processing speed.
The researchers found that both loneliness and social isolation contributed to cognitive decline, alone and in combination.
“This suggests a synergistic relationship in which emotional deprivation with loneliness and a lack of social resources resulting from social isolation may work together in different but reciprocal ways to create a burden on cognitive health,” the researchers wrote.
Researchers hypothesize that loneliness may affect brain health by promoting inflammation associated with anxiety or depression. Similarly, social isolation can reduce the amount of brain stimulation a person receives.
“The results of this study highlight the importance of psychosocial factors in cognitive health during the menopausal transition and may inform the development of multifaceted psychosocial interventions aimed at individuals at risk of subjective cognitive decline during this time.” Dr. Stephanie Faubionmedical director of the Menopause Society said in a news release. Faubion was not involved in the study.
More information
The Women’s Brain Health Initiative has more to say how menopause affects the brain.
Sources: Menopause Society, release, March 11, 2026; MenopauseMarch 11, 2026
What does this mean for you?
Women going through menopause should try to limit their loneliness and expand their social networks, as this can promote healthy brain aging.
