Study: It Turns Out That Lonely People Are Easier To Get Heart Disease To Trigger Early Death

Illustration of a man alone (Freepik/pikisuperstar)

JAKARTA - Loneliness has not only had a major impact on mental health, but also has a major impact on physical health. Cambridge University revealed that people who feel lonely have a higher risk of developing serious illness such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes to cause premature death.

A study found that loneliness turned deadly, as it increased levels of proteins that could clog arteries and trigger early death.

According to research from the University of Cambridge, interactions with friends and family can take care of our health because it increases the immune system, and reduces the risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Scientists analyzed the blood of more than 42,000 people who are members of the Biobank UK, a long-term health monitoring project, to seek internal differences in individuals experiencing social isolation.

The research team calculated the social isolation and loneliness scores based on whether one lives alone, how often they interact socially, and whether they participate in social activities. They also measure whether a person ' FEELs' lonely.

The results showed the presence of 5 proteins whose levels increased due to loneliness. One of the proteins, ASGR1, is associated with higher cholesterol levels and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Other proteins play a role in the development of insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and cancer development.

"We know that social isolation and loneliness are associated with poor health, but we've never understood why," said Dr. Chun Shen of the University of Cambridge Department of Clinical Faculty of Science, quoted by VOI from The Telegraph page on Thursday, January 9, 2025.

"Our research highlights a number of proteins that seem to play an important role in this relationship, with some proteins increasing directly due to loneliness," he continued.

Previous research showed that social isolation increased the risk of premature death by up to 14 percent, while loneliness increased the risk of stroke and heart disease by 30 percent. Until now, scientists have not understood the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.

One of the proteins found to increase due to loneliness is ADM. The high level of ADM is associated with a smaller brain volume in several areas, as well as an increased risk of early death.

The research team also found 175 proteins related to social isolation, many of which were produced in response to inflammation, viral infection, and part of the immune response. These proteins are also associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and early death.

"These findings emphasize the importance of social contact in maintaining our health. The more people of all ages report feeling lonely," said Professor Barbara Sahakian of the Cambridge University Department of Psychiatry.

"That's why the World Health Organization (WHO) describes social isolation and loneliness as a global public health problem'. We need to find a way to solve this growing problem and keep people connected so that they stay healthy," he added.

The study was conducted withlai University and Fudan University in China, as well as published in the journal Nature Human Behavior.

"The proteins we identify provide clues to the biological mechanisms that underlie poor health in people experiencing social isolation or loneliness, highlighting why social relationships play an important role in maintaining our health." explained Professor Jianfeng Feng ofTAL University.