Loneliness ages and increases risk of death, study reveals

A study was recently carried out by the Mayo Clinic, revealing that loneliness not only affects emotional well-being, but also has profound implications for people's physical and mental health and longevity.

Published on Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Advancesin March this year, this study highlights the importance of social bonds for health.

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_{Scientists from the Mayo Clinic conducted research into the impact of loneliness on longevity (Photo: reproduction/Thanasis Zovoilis/GettyImages Embed)}

Study and racial disparity

The research was based on collecting data from 280,000 adults, using an Artificial Intelligence model called AI-ECG to estimate the biological age of volunteers, combining questionnaires about their Social Networks and their cardiological exams over a period of more than two years.

The results indicated that socially isolated people appeared to be biologically older than their actual chronological age.

The IA-ECG revealed that loneliness is associated with faster aging. Volunteers who had a more active social life in research had a lower aging rate than those who declared having a more isolated social life. Participants responded to a questionnaire that addressed different areas of social interaction.

The study also revealed a difference between races, where non-white participants showed greater biological aging compared to whites. Those with lower Social Network Index scores faced a higher risk of death.

Expert recommendation

One of the scientists in this Mayo Clinic research, cardiologist Amir Lerman, emphasized in an interview the importance of combating social isolation.

He states that not having a social life critically affects health, but he knows that people can change their behaviors, seeking more social interaction and practicing regular exercise. Therefore, investing in social connections can be an effective strategy for delaying aging and promoting overall health. Not only improving life expectancy, but also reducing the risk of cardiological diseases, stroke and dementia.

Featured Photo: Lonely people age faster according to Mayo Clinic study (Reproduction/Justin Paget/GettyImages Embed)