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Social connections are important, but new research reveals how loneliness and social isolation impact our health. Researchers discovered that loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Context: Social isolation is an objective measure of social contact, whereas loneliness is a subjective feeling of being alone.

Why it matters

Loneliness is more than a feeling—it promotes biological changes that can increase the risk of life-threatening conditions, supporting the need to address social isolation and loneliness.

“These findings drive home the importance of social contact in keeping us well. More and more people of all ages are reporting feeling lonely. That’s why the World Health Organization has described social isolation and loneliness as a ‘global public health concern’. We need to find ways to tackle this growing problem and keep people connected to help them stay healthy.” —Barbara Sahakian, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge

The research

Scientists from the University of Cambridge and Fudan University (China) analyzed blood samples from over 42,000 adults in the UK Biobank.

  • They identified 175 proteins associated with social isolation and 26 linked to loneliness.
  • Approximately 85% of the proteins associated with loneliness were shared with social isolation.

A closer look

The research team examined the “proteomes” (full suite of proteins) in blood samples of participants 40-69 years old. As a result, they identified proteins in higher concentrations among socially isolated or lonely people. Many of the proteins were linked to inflammation, viral infections, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and early death.

How it works

The researchers used Mendelian randomization to understand cause and effect. This approach helped them identify five proteins whose increased levels were caused by loneliness.

 

The takeaway

This study demonstrates the significant influence of social connections on physical health. Knowing the biology of human behavior can lead to new ways to improve social well-being and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

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