Aging Clin Exp Res. 2026 May 21. doi: 10.1007/s40520-026-03411-6. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Loneliness and social isolation represent major threats to the health and well-being of older adults, conferring elevated risks for depression, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality. The rapid proliferation of digital health technologies and telehealth services-accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic-has opened new pathways for addressing these challenges at scale.
OBJECTIVE: This narrative review synthesizes the current evidence on the effectiveness of digital health and telehealth interventions in reducing loneliness and social isolation among older adults, examines the diverse modalities employed, identifies barriers to equitable adoption, and proposes directions for future research.
METHODS: A narrative synthesis was conducted drawing on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and observational studies identified through PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, primarily spanning 2020-2025. Interventions examined include telehealth video visits, empathy-focused telephone programs, group videoconferencing, digital mental health platforms, mobile health applications, social robots, and AI-enabled companions.
RESULTS: Telehealth video visits, empathy-focused telephone programs, and group-based videoconferencing demonstrate meaningful reductions in loneliness, depression, and anxiety in several RCTs and pilot studies. Digital mental health platforms incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness show promise, as do AI-enabled social robots in institutional and community settings. However, meta-analytic evidence reveals considerable heterogeneity: some pooled analyses report modest to null overall effects, while others find medium effect sizes (d = - 0.47). Intervention effectiveness appears contingent on design features, population characteristics, training support, and integration with existing social networks. The digital divide-limited digital literacy, technology access, usability challenges, and preference for in-person care-remains a challenging barrier to equitable implementation.
CONCLUSIONS: Digital health and telehealth interventions hold considerable promise for mitigating loneliness among older adults. However, their benefits cannot be realized without systematically addressing the digital divide. Large-scale, well-powered RCTs with standardized outcome measures and longer follow-up periods are urgently needed, alongside implementation science research to translate evidence into scalable practice.
PMID:42166076 | DOI:10.1007/s40520-026-03411-6