Social Isolation

The detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness on mental and physical health are well-documented worldwide. However, little is known about how different socio-cognitive abilities contribute to social isolation and loneliness, and how, in turn, social isolation and loneliness impact socio-cognitive abilities.

In a new line of research, we address this gap by studying three distinct populations particularly at risk: young healthy adults, individuals with psychiatric disorders, and individuals with acquired brain damage.

Two new collaborative grants were awarded to investigate these issues:

• 2026 – 2029: Digital markers of Social Cognition for diagnosis and pRognosis in Neurodegeneration (DISCeRN). PINT-MULTI – EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research. In collaboration with Maxime Bertoux (Lille Neurosciences & Cognition), Adrian Ivanoiu and Pegah Masrori (Saint-Luc-UCLouvain), Jan Van den Stock (KU Leuven), Chiara Cerami (IRCCS Camaldoli Milan), Agustin Ibanez (Trinity College Dublin), Maxime Montembeault (McGill University), Esther vzn den Berg (Erasmus MC University), Alessandra Dodich (University of Trento).

• 2025 – 2030: Towards better social inclusion of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder without Intellectual Disabilities. Donor-funded research. Fondation Louvain. In collaboration with Sophie Leclercq (Gut-Brain, UCLouvain), Philippe de Timary (Neuropsychiatry, UCLouvain), Vincent Lorant (Sociology), Anne Wintgens (Child Psychiatry) as well as colleagues from Psychology, Henryk Bukowski, Nathalie Nader, Magali Lahaye and Emilie Jacobs.