Researchers assert that one of the biggest emerging threats to humanity is chronic loneliness. Statistics reveal that in the UK alone, 3.8 million people suffer from a profound sense of isolation combined with a lack of meaningful relationships.
Chronic Loneliness: A Problem Beyond the Elderly
Perhaps surprisingly, statistics show that young people under 30 are the loneliest age group. Individuals aged 16 to 29 are twice as likely to experience chronic loneliness compared to those over 70.
This feeling is not a temporary state that some experience when children go off to university or relationships end. Chronic loneliness is an all-consuming, persistent sense of isolation that negatively impacts mental health. According to Robin Hewings, it is a serious health issue that has continued to rise in the aftermath of the pandemic.
The Serious Impact of Chronic Loneliness on Health
Japanese researchers studied nearly 9,000 men and women aged 65 and older. They compared MRI brain scan results with detailed information about how many regular contacts individuals had with family and friends.
The results indicated that people with the fewest social contacts also had the smallest brain volume. This was particularly evident in areas such as the hippocampus and amygdala, which are linked to dementia.
Researchers suggest that a lack of social contact may accelerate the gradual brain shrinkage that occurs with age. Other studies show that regular verbal and social interactions trigger nerve impulses necessary for forming new connections between brain cells, helping to maintain brain volume.
One recent study examined the risk of cardiovascular disease over a decade among 18,509 adults in the UK with type 2 diabetes. This condition alone is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes, as it can lead to circulation problems. However, the study revealed that the risks were even greater—by as much as 26%—for those who lived in isolation and lacked friends and social contacts.
Why Does Chronic Loneliness Harm Health So Much?
How can feelings of alienation have such catastrophic effects on physical health? One answer lies in the body’s response, which reacts as if it is under threat. It releases the hormone cortisol, which accelerates heart rate and blood pressure, preparing the individual to fight or flee from an impending danger.
Chronic loneliness can lead to constant stress, meaning the cortisol response is perpetually activated. Studies show that prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol levels can increase blood pressure, blood glucose levels, cholesterol, and triglycerides—harmful fats in the blood.
Other mechanisms by which loneliness affects human health are still being explored. Since some people feel lonely even when surrounded by others, scientists want to determine whether loneliness and social isolation have different consequences.
According to a 2020 study, both loneliness and social isolation can lead to slower walking speeds and difficulty rising from a chair. However, only social isolation also results in worsened balance.
Ways to Combat Chronic Loneliness
As noted by the Daily Mail, all evidence suggests that the solution lies in getting out into the world, meeting, and interacting with people. However, the type of interaction also matters.
Psychologists have found that the key to reducing loneliness is physical touch with a friend or loved one, rather than merely being in their company. Research results showed that even among mature couples, feelings of loneliness decreased when there was regular physical contact, such as hugging or simply holding hands.