Loneliness and Social Isolation: Hidden Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases

The study, conducted by Larissa Bartlett and colleagues, analysed data from over 6,670 participants with an average age of 63. Using Australian risk reduction guidelines, the researchers found that higher levels of social isolation and loneliness were linked to increased risk for seven out of nine modifiable health factors.

Interestingly, as people get older, they tend to know more people, but they often feel less supported and less like they belong. The researchers wanted to understand how loneliness and social isolation affect health risks beyond things we can’t change, like age.

When considering the nine risk factors covered in the dementia risk profile, they found people with smaller or less supportive social circles were more likely to have higher risk - except when it came to smoking and drinking too much alcohol. For example:

• Loneliness and isolation was linked to lower physical activity and poor management of blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, however this link as not linear.
• People with more social connections tended to eat better, stay mentally active, and have healthier body weights.
• However, those with larger and more supportive social networks also tended to drink more alcohol.
• There weren’t enough smokers in the study to draw conclusions about smoking.

The study suggests that improving social connections could help reduce the risk of chronic diseases and dementia, and highlights the importance of addressing social health in public health strategies. The study calls for further longitudinal research to explore the underlying mechanisms and develop effective prevention and intervention approaches.

To read the full paper, please follow this link: Loneliness and social isolation correlate with multiple modifiable risk factors for chronic diseases including dementia | Journal of Public Health