Work

Depression and loneliness differentially predict visual hallucinations in veterans with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Loneliness, social isolation, and depression are risk factors for hallucinations in patients with dementia. However, it is unclear whether relationships between these socioemotional factors and hallucinations differ in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Lewy body dementia (LBD) compared to those with neither diagnosis. METHODS: We used logistic regression models on a large sample of veterans from a memory disorders clinic with varied diagnoses to test whether loneliness, social isolation, and/or depression predicted visual hallucinations (VHs) and interacted with neurocognitive diagnosis. RESULTS: Depression and loneliness were associated with VHs among patients with diagnoses of AD and/or Lewy body dementia, but not in those with neither diagnosis. Social isolation did not predict hallucinations in any diagnostic group. DISCUSSION: Depression and loneliness can predict the presence of VHs, depending on the patient's underlying diagnosis. Future studies are needed to tease out causal relationships.

Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring

DOI: 10.1002/dad2.70508

Authors: Hannah Noah, Kathy Y. Xie, Anthony J. Goñez, Katherine W. Turk, Brandon Frank, Andrew E. Budson

Institutions: Boston University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, VA Boston Healthcare System

Language: English

Topic: Hallucinations in medical conditions

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,540