Loneliness & Social Isolation

With guest Dr. Kerry Burnight

Social isolation is defined as wanting more connection than you currently have. There are many adverse health effects of loneliness and social isolation – such as the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and dementia. While loneliness is a normal human experience, it can contribute to unhealthy behaviours (such as physical inactivity + poor sleep), increased stress and higher blood pressure. Get proactive by identifying your level of loneliness and take steps to connect with others.

Dr. Kerry Burnight has a PhD and is the Chief Gerontologist at GrandPad. She was formerly a Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the University of California, Irvine. For 20 years, as a professor, she researched elder exploitation, loneliness, and dementia.

Visit Brainshape.ca to learn about more relevant topics. Dr. Andrea Wilkinson has a PhD in Psychology with a specialization in Cognitive Aging. She has been studying brain fitness and cognitive maintenance for over 15 years. She co-founded BrainShape™ in 2014 - an online community for adults who want to enhance their mental & physical vibrancy as they age. Dr. Andrea is the host of the BrainShape Podcast™, a weekly show that covers the latest brain health research and shares interviews with experts in the field of health & aging.