Warning people living alone could face higher risk of heart disease and stroke The more time we spend alone may not just be detrimental to our mental health but our physical health too, new research suggests.
Social isolation was based on a number of factors including whether they live alone, how frequently they have contact with others socially, and whether they take part in social activities.
After adjusting for factors such as age, sex and socioeconomic background, the scientists discovered 175 proteins associated with social isolation and 26 proteins associated with loneliness.
They could then determine which proteins were present in higher levels among people who were classified as socially isolated or lonely, and how these proteins were connected to poorer health.
The majority of these proteins are produced in response to inflammation, viral infection and as part of our immune responses, as well as having been linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and early death.
