Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Nature Human Behaviour, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-02078-1 Dr. Chun Shen et al.
Points
- The study identified 175 proteins linked to social isolation and 26 to loneliness, with significant overlap (85%), highlighting biological pathways like inflammation and immune regulation that contribute to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and premature mortality.
- Proteins like ADM and ASGR1 were causally linked to loneliness through Mendelian randomization, with ADM associated with smaller brain regions involved in emotional and social processes and an increased risk of early death.
- Elevated levels of proteins such as ASGR1 were tied to higher cholesterol, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and cancer progression, reinforcing the role of loneliness and isolation in poorer health outcomes.
- The findings highlight the urgent need for public health interventions to reduce loneliness and improve social connections, which can help prevent chronic diseases and enhance overall health.
- The study emphasizes the importance of incorporating proteomic responses into health strategies to address the global public health concerns of social isolation and loneliness.
Summary
A recent study in Nature Human Behaviour explored the biological mechanisms linking social isolation and loneliness to poorer health outcomes. Researchers analyzed proteomic data from 42,062 participants in the UK Biobank, identifying proteins associated with social isolation and loneliness. They found 175 proteins linked to social isolation and 26 to loneliness, with a significant overlap (approximately 85%). These proteins were primarily involved in inflammation, antiviral responses, and immune regulation, all known to contribute to conditions like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and premature mortality. Notably, five proteins, including ADM and ASGR1, were found to be causally influenced by loneliness through Mendelian randomization analysis.
The study revealed that increased levels of ADM were linked to smaller brain regions, such as the insula and left caudate, which are involved in emotional and social processes. Higher ADM levels were also associated with an increased risk of early death, further supporting the connection between loneliness and adverse health outcomes. Other identified proteins, including ASGR1, were associated with higher cholesterol, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and cancer progression. These findings highlight the significant role of social relationships in maintaining health and the physiological pathways that explain why social isolation and loneliness lead to poorer health outcomes.
In addition to offering insights into the underlying biology of loneliness and social isolation, the study emphasizes the need for interventions to address these conditions, which are increasingly recognized as global public health concerns. The researchers suggest that improving social connections could be a key factor in preventing the development of chronic diseases and improving overall health outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of considering the proteomic responses to social isolation in future health interventions and public health strategies.
Link to the article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02078-1
References Shen, C., Zhang, R., Yu, J., Sahakian, B. J., Cheng, W., & Feng, J. (2025). Plasma proteomic signatures of social isolation and loneliness associated with morbidity and mortality. Nature Human Behaviour, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-02078-1
