How Social Isolation Affects Older Adults

Texas Tech Health Check

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September is designated as Healthy Aging Month, but social isolation and loneliness among older adults negatively affect their mental and physical health. What does that mean and what can we do to help minimize that risk? Gayle Ayers, D.O. is a psychiatrist with the TTUHSC Garrison Institute on Aging and our guest for this and the next episode. Dr. Ayers explains how the number of older adults who feel isolated increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and how that negatively impacts mental health, contributing to depression and anxiety, and can accelerate cognitive decline, including dementia.