Loneliness is not just bad for your mental health, it also causes infections
6 days, 13 hours ago

Loneliness is not just bad for your mental health, it also causes infections

India Today  

Staying connected with friends and family isn't just good for mental health, it might also protect against diseases like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, according to new research. They found that social isolation and loneliness are linked to specific proteins in the blood that influence inflammation, immune response, and stress regulation - all factors associated with serious health conditions. The researchers identified 175 proteins associated with social isolation and 26 with loneliness, with 85% of the proteins overlapping. Researchers suggesting investing in community programs, social activities, and support systems as these can play a vital role in reducing loneliness and improving overall health outcomes.

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History of this topic

science newsletter New study links loneliness to cardiovascular diseases, stroke and mortality
2 days, 1 hour ago

science newsletter New study links loneliness to cardiovascular diseases, stroke and mortality

The Hindu  

A new study published January 3, 2025, in Nature Human Behaviour journal, has found that loneliness and social isolation in humans can be linked to cardiovascular diseases, stroke and mortality. With the study, the researchers wanted to answer two questions: Which proteins are associated with social isolation and loneliness? The researchers noted a protein that is an inflammatory marker, and …

Loneliness and social isolation are linked to specific proteins – new research
Trending News
2 days, 5 hours ago

Loneliness and social isolation are linked to specific proteins – new research

The Hindu  

Human beings are inherently social. We wanted to follow up our previous study by understanding the underlying biological processes behind this link between social isolation and loneliness and health. We discovered that the proteins found to be significantly associated with loneliness and social isolation are also known to be implicated in inflammation as well as antiviral and immune responses. Societal …

Feeling lonely? Study says loneliness increases your risk of developing dementia by 31%
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Feeling lonely? Study says loneliness increases your risk of developing dementia by 31%

Hindustan Times  

Loneliness goes beyond the feeling of being alone and isolated. According to the largest study ever conducted on the subject, published in Nature Mental Health, loneliness is now linked to a 31% higher risk of developing dementia. This is groundbreaking, as the risk factor of loneliness is similar to other commonly known risk factors for dementia, like smoking or lack …

Chronic loneliness puts older adults at risk for stroke, study suggests
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Chronic loneliness puts older adults at risk for stroke, study suggests

CNN  

Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 to connect with a trained counselor, or visit the 988 Lifeline website. In fact, older adults who reported being chronically lonely had a 56% higher risk of stroke than those who were …

Loneliness and cardiovascular health: Here's how social isolation leads to deadly heart issues
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Loneliness and cardiovascular health: Here's how social isolation leads to deadly heart issues

Hindustan Times  

The subjective experience of a mismatch between one's desired and actual levels of social connectedness is known as loneliness, or “perceived social isolation”. Loneliness and cardiovascular health: Here's how social isolation leads to deadly heart issues In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Prashant Pawar, Consultant-Interventional Cardiology at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital in Vashi, shared, “It is commonly acknowledged that loneliness …

Only the lonely know the way I feel'
1 year, 1 month ago

Only the lonely know the way I feel'

Deccan Chronicle  

Feeling lonely is tough. Evolutionary mechanisms for loneliness As cavemen, we lived in “tribes.” The idea behind tribes was that everyone had assigned roles; some stayed back to take care of the family while others went out to hunt. Social connections ensure reproductive success in the tribes, where individuals formed partnerships and even shared caregiving responsibilities for children,” explains Dr. …

Yes, loneliness really is as deadly as smoking — here's why
1 year, 8 months ago

Yes, loneliness really is as deadly as smoking — here's why

Salon  

The fabric of American society — our car-centric city design, our predilection for single-family homes and our self-reliant culture — seems engineered to engender loneliness. This is because social isolation and loneliness are believed to shorten a person's life span by up to 15 years, as well as place them at increased risk of not exercising well, having a poor …

Experts say loneliness isn't just a social problem — it's bad for your health, too
1 year, 8 months ago

Experts say loneliness isn't just a social problem — it's bad for your health, too

Salon  

Loneliness isn't just a social problem — it's a physical problem as well, as scientific research over the past decade has revealed in spades. "In the lab study, we found striking similarities between social isolation and food deprivation," said authors Ana Stijovic and Paul Forbes in a joint press statement. "Both states induced lowered energy and heightened fatigue, which is …

Loneliness isn't just bad for your mental health — it can compromise your immune system
1 year, 9 months ago

Loneliness isn't just bad for your mental health — it can compromise your immune system

Salon  

When it began some three years ago, few anticipated that the COVID-19 pandemic would kill several million people and injure countless others. Loneliness increases the risk of many illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, stroke, dementia, and mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. Studies show that loneliness or social isolation has been tied to elevated blood levels of …

The loneliness of being immunocompromised in the age of COVID-19
1 year, 11 months ago

The loneliness of being immunocompromised in the age of COVID-19

LA Times  

This story was originally published in Group Therapy, a weekly newsletter answering questions sent by readers about what’s been weighing on their hearts and minds. It’s like my illness is making me pay twice!” “I’d like some mechanisms for isolation issues to someone moving into their senior years and finding that COVID only intensified the issues with feelings of abandonment; …

Risk of developing diabetes is twice when people are lonely: Study
2 years, 3 months ago

Risk of developing diabetes is twice when people are lonely: Study

Hindustan Times  

The findings of a new study suggest that feelings of loneliness are linked to a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. As well as examining the association between loneliness and the risk of developing T2D, it looked at whether depression and insomnia play a role. Risk of developing diabetes is twice when people are lonely: Study A growing …

Loneliness increases risk of future unemployment: Study
2 years, 4 months ago

Loneliness increases risk of future unemployment: Study

Hindustan Times  

According to new research, experiencing loneliness seems to lead to a higher risk of future unemployment. Lead author Nia Morrish, of the University of Exeter, said: "Given the persisting and potentially scarring effects of both loneliness and unemployment on health and the economy, prevention of both experiences is key. Decreased loneliness could mitigate unemployment, and employment abate loneliness, which may, …

Turn Your Loneliness Into 'Me-Time' With These Tips
2 years, 5 months ago

Turn Your Loneliness Into 'Me-Time' With These Tips

News 18  

Humans are social beings who thrive on social interactions. Volunteer As per a 2020 study in the United Kingdom, participants filled in a survey form every two years from 1996-2014, about their overall mental health and volunteering habits. It was found that those who volunteered at least once a month reported better mental health than those who volunteered infrequently or …

Loneliness is the last taboo – here’s how we can overcome it
2 years, 8 months ago

Loneliness is the last taboo – here’s how we can overcome it

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But when we spoke to people …

Patralekha Chatterjee | Loneliness is the hidden pandemic in Covid times
3 years, 4 months ago

Patralekha Chatterjee | Loneliness is the hidden pandemic in Covid times

Deccan Chronicle  

Britain has a minister for loneliness. Social isolation and loneliness are widespread, with some countries reporting that up to one in three older people feel lonely, the World Health Organisation says. There is a lot of research showing the serious impact of social isolation and loneliness on older people’s physical and mental health, quality of life as well as longevity. …

6 Signs Feeling Lonely Has Become A Bigger Issue (And How To Fix It)
3 years, 10 months ago

6 Signs Feeling Lonely Has Become A Bigger Issue (And How To Fix It)

Huff Post  

Alexandra Bowman for HuffPost Bent Not Broken is a look back on the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has disrupted our mental health, plus advice on how to manage our well-being moving forward. Yasmine Saad, a licensed clinical psychologist and CEO of Madison Park Psychological Services in New York City, said that “when we go from …

Panic Attacks And Night Terrors: The Mental Health Toll Of Coronavirus
4 years, 9 months ago

Panic Attacks And Night Terrors: The Mental Health Toll Of Coronavirus

Huff Post  

Illustration: Damon Dahlen/HuffPost; Photos: Getty Images March was supposed to be a time of relief for Karin Barbee. “I’m feeling like it’s never-ending, you know, like it’s just going to go on forever.” The coronavirus outbreak has forced every American to radically change the way they live. “My concern is how this will accumulate over time and how people will …

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