HEALTH NOTES

A LITTLE bit of loneliness may be a good thing for older people, surprising new research shows. Experts at the University of Zurich got 118 men and women over 65 to use an app to log all social interactions for three weeks. The results, published in the British Journal of Psychology, showed that the longer they spent in solitude, the more time the volunteers spent socialising at the next opportunity. The study found that older people need some quiet time to recharge their batteries after mixing with others. ‘Solitude is an integral part in older adults’ daily lives as it supports energy recovery,’ researchers said.