Cambridge / UK / Shanghai: New research suggests that social interactions can improve health by boosting the immune system and reducing the risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
The study, involving over 42,000 adults aged 40-69, was published in Nature Human Behaviour and focused on how social isolation and loneliness affect the proteomes (suites of proteins) found in blood.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Fudan University examined blood samples from participants in the UK Biobank, revealing that social isolation and loneliness were associated with 175 and 26 proteins, respectively.
Many of these proteins are linked to inflammation, immune responses, and diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and early death. The study also found substantial overlap, with about 85% of the proteins linked to loneliness also related to social isolation.
Measuring Social Isolation
Social isolation was assessed based on factors such as living alone, frequency of social contact, and participation in social activities, while loneliness was measured subjectively, based on how individuals felt.
When adjusting for factors like age, sex, and socioeconomic background, researchers identified five proteins whose abundance was directly influenced by loneliness.
What the study tells?
One protein, ADM, which is involved in stress responses and regulating hormones such as oxytocin, showed elevated levels in lonely individuals.
Higher ADM levels were linked to a smaller volume in the insula (a brain region related to body awareness) and the left caudate (associated with emotional and social processes). Elevated ADM levels were also tied to an increased risk of early death.
Another protein, ASGR1, was associated with higher cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk. Several other proteins identified in the study are linked to insulin resistance, atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries), and cancer progression.
The study highlights the importance of social contact in maintaining health, with experts emphasizing the growing concern of loneliness.
Professor Barbara Sahakian from the University of Cambridge stressed the need for strategies to tackle social isolation, as it has become a global public health issue.
The research was supported by various funding bodies, including the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China and the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project.