India, Sept. 15 -- The growing phase of childhood is usually hailed as the time to play. But more often than not, some children are not able to connect with their peers and feel lonely. And it is not merely about having lunch alone or being the only one not picked for a group activity at school; childhood loneliness has much more devastating consequences than you would expect. It has lasting effects.

A study published on September 12 in JAMA Network Open found that childhood loneliness increases risks of cognitive decline and dementia in adulthood. Even if you are not lonely anymore in adulthood and have become a social butterfly now, the risk still remains.

As per the findings, the researchers found that the absence of close friendship...