Scientists from the University of Glasgow found that lack of communication with friends or family is associated with shorter life expectancy. Research results published at BMC Medicine.
In their study, the scientists used data from 458,146 adults from the UK Biobank, a private repository of biological samples. The average age of the participants was 56.5 years. All subjects completed surveys answering questions about whether they trusted their loved ones and whether they felt lonely. Volunteers also provided information about who they lived with, how often they attended various social activities, and interacted with friends and family.
Scientists followed the participants for 12.6 years. During this time, 33,135 people died. Researchers found that lonely people have a shorter life expectancy than those who are socially active. Additionally, people who had no contact with friends or relatives were more likely to die from various causes.
The mechanisms underlying this relationship have not yet been investigated. More research is needed.
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