Spending time with loved ones helps you live longer: Scientists reveal social contact can reduce the risk of stroke and developing type 2 diabetes
Seeing friends and family strengthens our immune system, reduces the risk of stroke and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a study shows.
Scientists have discovered five proteins specifically linked to loneliness that could contribute to a range of health problems.
They drew this conclusion after studying proteins from blood samples from tens of thousands of adults recruited into the UK Biobank.
And they said their findings highlight the importance of social contact in keeping us healthy.
Previous research has found that both social isolation and loneliness are linked to lower well-being and early death, but the underlying mechanisms through which relationships influence health have remained elusive.
The team from the University of Cambridge examined proteins in blood samples donated by 42,000 adults aged between 40 and 69.
This allowed them to see which proteins were present in higher concentrations in people who were socially isolated or lonely, and how these proteins were linked to poorer health.
Analysis revealed five proteins whose abundance was driven by loneliness – some of which are already linked to cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, the development of insulin resistance and early death.
Scientists have discovered five proteins specifically linked to loneliness that could contribute to a range of health problems. (stock image)
Seeing friends and family strengthens our immune system, reduces the risk of stroke and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a study shows. (stock image)
Dr. Chun Shen, one of the study’s authors, said: ‘We know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, but we’ve never understood why.
‘Our work has identified a number of proteins that appear to play a key role in this relationship, with levels of some proteins in particular increasing as a direct result of loneliness.’
Professor Barbara Sahakian, from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Psychiatry, added: ‘These findings highlight how important social contact is in keeping us healthy. More and more people of all ages report feeling lonely.
‘That is why the World Health Organization has described social isolation and loneliness as a ‘global public health problem’.
“We must find ways to tackle this growing problem and keep people connected to help them stay healthy.”
The findings have been published in the journal Nature Human Behavior.