New Insights into Social Isolation and Loneliness
New Insights into Social Isolation and Loneliness

Author: Yuka Kotozaki

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2024-04-25

Total Pages: 101

ISBN-13: 2832547311

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Social isolation is generally recognized as a major public health problem and is widely recognized to have detrimental consequences for people's health, including reduced mental health, increased risk of disease (e.g., hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer), mortality, and cognitive decline. It is widely recognized that social isolation is a major cause of death. Combined with the recent COVID-19 and other changes in social conditions, social isolation, and loneliness are becoming an increasing concern. Social isolation can occur regardless of gender or age, and the occurrence process and related factors warrant further investigation.

Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults
Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2020-05-14

Total Pages: 317

ISBN-13: 0309671035

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Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population. Approximately one-quarter of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. People who are 50 years of age or older are more likely to experience many of the risk factors that can cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness, such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and sensory impairments. Over a life course, social isolation and loneliness may be episodic or chronic, depending upon an individual's circumstances and perceptions. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that social isolation presents a major risk for premature mortality, comparable to other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, or obesity. As older adults are particularly high-volume and high-frequency users of the health care system, there is an opportunity for health care professionals to identify, prevent, and mitigate the adverse health impacts of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults summarizes the evidence base and explores how social isolation and loneliness affect health and quality of life in adults aged 50 and older, particularly among low income, underserved, and vulnerable populations. This report makes recommendations specifically for clinical settings of health care to identify those who suffer the resultant negative health impacts of social isolation and loneliness and target interventions to improve their social conditions. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults considers clinical tools and methodologies, better education and training for the health care workforce, and dissemination and implementation that will be important for translating research into practice, especially as the evidence base for effective interventions continues to flourish.

Mental Health Effects of COVID-19
Mental Health Effects of COVID-19

Author: Ahmed Moustafa

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2021-06-11

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 0128242884

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The physical effects of COVID-19 are felt globally. However, one issue that has not been sufficiently addressed is the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens worldwide are enduring widespread lockdowns; children are out of school; and millions have lost their jobs, which has caused anxiety, depression, insomnia, and distress. Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 provides a comprehensive analysis of mental health problems resulting from COVID-19, including depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts, trauma, and PTSD. The book includes chapters detailing the impact of COVID-19 on the family's well-being and society dynamics. The book concludes with an explanation on how meditation and online treatment methods can be used to combat the effects on mental health. - Discusses family dynamics, domestic violence, and aggression due to COVID-19 - Details the psychological impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents - Includes key information on depression, anxiety, and suicide as a result of COVID-19

Neuro-Immune Interactions in Inflammation and Autoimmunity
Neuro-Immune Interactions in Inflammation and Autoimmunity

Author: Valentin A. Pavlov

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2018-07-24

Total Pages: 222

ISBN-13: 2889455335

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The nervous system plays an important role in the regulation of immunity and inflammation. On the other hand unbalanced immune responses in inflammatory and autoimmune conditions may have a deleterious impact on neuronal integrity and brain function. Recent studies have characterized neural pathways communicating peripheral inflammatory signals to the CNS, and brain- and spinal cord-derived circuitries controlling various innate and adaptive immune responses and inflammation. A prototypical neural reflex circuit that regulates immunity and inflammation is the vagus nerve-based “inflammatory reflex”. Ongoing research has revealed cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these neural circuits and indicated new therapeutic approaches in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Pharmacological and bioelectronic modulation of neural circuitry has been successfully explored in preclinical settings of sepsis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity-driven disorders, diabetes and other diseases. These studies paved the way to successful clinical trials with bioelectronic neuronal modulation in rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Dysregulated release of cytokines and other inflammatory molecules may have a severe impact on brain function. Brain inflammation (neuroinflammation), imbalances in brain neuronal integrity and neurotransmitter systems, and cognitive impairment are characteristic features of post-operative conditions, sepsis, liver diseases, diabetes and other disorders characterized by immune and metabolic dysregulation. Derangements in cytokine release also play a pivotal role in depression. Characteristic brain reactive antibodies in autoimmune conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus and neuromyelitis optica, significantly contribute to brain pathology and cognitive impairment. These studies, and the simultaneous characterization of neuro-protective cytokines, identified new therapeutic approaches for treating neurological complications in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. This Frontiers Research Topic is a forum for publishing research findings and methodological and conceptual advances at the intersection of immunology and neuroscience. We hope that presenting new insight into bi-directional neuro-immune communication in inflammation and autoimmunity will foster further collaborations and facilitate the development of new efficient therapeutic strategies.

COVID-19 related olfactory dysfunction: Neuropsychiatric, psychological, and cognitive effects
COVID-19 related olfactory dysfunction: Neuropsychiatric, psychological, and cognitive effects

Author: Dalinda Isabel Sánchez-Vidaña

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2023-11-27

Total Pages: 121

ISBN-13: 2832537499

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Olfactory dysfunction, also known as anosmia and hyposmia, is one of the most prevalent (80-90%) symptoms reported by patients with COVID-19. Outside the context of COVID-19, chemosensory dysfunction has been associated with decreased quality of life, anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. In the setting of COVID-19, decreased sense of smell has been positively associated with mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. The short-term and long-term neuropsychiatric implications of the olfactory dysfunction related to COVID-19 are still largely unexplored. Investigation of the neuropsychiatric sequelae of olfactory dysfunction related to COVID-19 infection is particularly critical to characterize the pathological effects of COVID-19 on brain function and to develop strategies to improve patient’s quality of life and mental wellbeing. In this Research Topic, Frontiers aims to highlight studies that investigate the neuropsychiatric, psychological, and cognitive consequences of COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction, present current advances in the field, and anticipate health care needs for the development of therapeutic interventions.