Researchers from the University of Greenwich (UK) found that people who experienced loneliness in childhood had increased levels of inflammatory markers in their bodies as adults. results published in the field of Brain, Behavior and Immunity (BBI).
In the study conducted in three different groups, a large sample size was ensured to ensure reliable results. 6,144 people from Denmark (mean age 60) and 881 from New Zealand (mean age 45) participated. Data from 1,448 British twins with a mean age of 18 years were also used. Using special questionnaires, scientists recorded information about how intense and traumatic the feeling of loneliness was among volunteers in childhood.
To assess the intensity of inflammation in the body, researchers measured concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and urokinase plasminogen activator (suPAR) in the participants’ blood.
The results showed that Danish participants who reported social isolation during childhood had higher levels of all three inflammatory markers than those who lived with family or friends. However, after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, and smoking history, the increase remained significant only for suPAR levels. Volunteers from New Zealand and the United Kingdom who experienced loneliness in childhood also showed increased levels of the inflammatory marker suPAR after adjustment.
Researchers emphasized that loneliness in childhood can lead to long-term chronic inflammation that occurs in adulthood. Chronic inflammation is one of the main biomarkers of aging and one of the elements in the pathogenesis of dangerous conditions such as diabetes and heart attack. More research is needed to investigate these relationships in more depth.
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