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Show: December 9, 2012:
- What factors have influenced the rise in knee replacements?
- Are health and happiness linked?
- Are the effects of “chemo brain” irreversible?
- Is talk therapy effective over the phone?
- Do feelings of loneliness pose health risks?
- How do drugs get their names?
- View all topics for the week
Sound Medicine is brought to you by:
Do feelings of loneliness pose health risks?
Host: Steve Bogdewic, PhD
Interview: Carla Perissinotto, M.D., M.H.S., assistant professor in the UCSF Division of Geriatrics.
Are you feeling isolated or left out? Even people who are married or have a companion may feel lonely. Carla Perissinotto, M.D., MHS, an assistant professor in the University of California, San Francisco Division of Geriatrics, found that loneliness leads to a decline in functioning and even death. Perissinotto's research is leading her to explore options and services that could help prevent this. The researchers used a three-item loneliness questionnaire to assess loneliness and classify individuals based on their subjective feelings. Perissinotto describes how to connect older adults socially, including evaluating an individual’s lifestyle and finding suitable social connections.
Additional Resources:
- Learn more about how loneliness can have serious health consequences for older adults here.
