A study by SMU researchers has found that seniors who live alone risk becoming socially and emotionally isolated. Said Dr Nadee Goonawardene, a research fellow from the SMU-TCS iCity Lab who led the study which is part of the SHINESeniors project: "Social isolation puts them at risk of developing depression and could affect their sleep quality, cognition level and ability to perform their daily activities." Supervised by Academic Director of the SMU-TCS iCity Lab Associate Professor Tan Hwee Pink, the study started in March last year, with the team tracking 46 seniors, aged 61 to 93, who live alone in Marine Parade.