Loneliness may increase your risks of heart disease, stroke, infections

A new study suggests that staying connected with friends and family can strengthen our immune system and lower the risk of diseases like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Researchers from the UK and China discovered links between social relationships and health by analyzing proteins in blood samples from over 42,000 adults. Their findings, published in Nature Human Behaviour, offer insight into why social isolation and loneliness can harm health.

It’s well known that social relationships are essential for our well-being. People who are socially isolated or lonely tend to experience poorer health and a higher risk of early death.

However, the biological reasons behind these links have remained unclear. This study sheds light on how proteins in the blood may help explain the connection.

Proteins, which play critical roles in the body, can reflect how our genes respond to various conditions and are often used as markers for diseases.

The researchers, led by scientists from the University of Cambridge and Fudan University, analyzed blood samples from participants aged 40 to 69 years in the UK Biobank. By examining the “proteome,” or full set of proteins in the blood, the team identified patterns associated with social isolation and loneliness.

Social isolation refers to objective factors, like living alone or having infrequent social contact, while loneliness measures the subjective feeling of being alone. The study found 175 proteins linked to social isolation and 26 associated with loneliness, with significant overlap between the two groups.

Many of these proteins are involved in inflammation, immune responses, and conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and early death.

The researchers used advanced statistical methods to confirm that loneliness directly influenced the levels of five specific proteins. One of these, ADM, plays a role in stress response and the regulation of oxytocin, often called the “love hormone.”

Higher levels of ADM were linked to smaller volumes in brain areas responsible for sensing the body’s internal state and processing emotions, like the insula and left caudate. Elevated ADM levels were also associated with an increased risk of early death.

Other proteins identified in the study, such as ASGR1, were linked to higher cholesterol levels and a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

Additional proteins were connected to insulin resistance, artery damage, and cancer progression, highlighting how loneliness and social isolation can contribute to multiple health problems.

Professor Barbara Sahakian from the University of Cambridge emphasized the urgency of addressing loneliness and isolation, which are increasingly reported across all age groups.

“The World Health Organization has recognized social isolation and loneliness as a global public health concern. Finding ways to keep people connected is vital to maintaining their health,” she said.

The study also highlights the role of advanced tools like artificial intelligence and proteomics in identifying specific proteins that could lead to new strategies for preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases.

These findings underline the importance of fostering social relationships as part of a healthy lifestyle. Strengthening connections with friends, family, and community can do more than boost mental well-being—it might also protect physical health and extend life expectancy.

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The research findings can be found in Nature Human Behaviour.