Researchers have found a surprising outcome in a study studying the effects of loneliness on memory in older adults. Participants self-reported their high or low levels of loneliness, but their rate of decline over time was similar to those of the other groups. The study found that while loneliness significantly impacted memory, it did not affect the speed of memory decline. This suggests that loneliness may play a more prominent role in the initial state of memory than in its progressive decline. However, researchers noted that the high loneliness group had higher self-rated health and a higher prevalence of depression, high blood pressure and diabetes. The findings were published in the Aging and Mental Health journal.