Loneliness isn't just associated with a higher risk of death, but also a higher risk of dementia, new research suggests. A meta-analysis of 21 studies involving more than 600,000 people finds loneliness is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia from any cause.

Feeling lonely increased risk for all-cause dementia by 31 percent and cognitive impairment by 15 percent. Loneliness is a common — some would even say, universal — human experience.

Loneliness has been increasingly linked to heart attacks, strokes and other poor health outcomes, and now a new study shows it also raises the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment.

An international study led by a University of Queensland researcher has found frailty increases a person's risk of dementia, but early intervention may be the key to prevention.