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Researchers have found that loneliness and social isolation can impact the levels of proteins that are associated with various diseases, and even death.
The analysis, ‘Plasma proteomic signatures of social isolation and loneliness associated with morbidity and mortality’, was published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour on Wednesday. The research was carried out by scholars at the University of Cambridge (UK) and Fudan University (China).
Prof Barbara Sahakian, a co-author of the study at the University of Cambridge, told The Guardian, “I think the message is that we have got to start to get people to realise that it (loneliness and social isolation) is part of a health thing, both for their mental health and their wellbeing but also for their physical health, that they have to remain connected with other people”.
The researchers examined the ‘proteomes’ — entire set of proteins expressed by an organism — of blood samples from more than 42,000 adults aged 40-69 years who took part in the UK Biobank.
This allowed the researchers to determine whether the 9.3% who reported social isolation and 6.4% who reported loneliness had different levels of proteins in their blood compared with those who did not, according to the report in The Guardian.
The researchers also used a statistical technique called Mendelian randomisation to examine the relationship between social isolation and loneliness on the one hand, and proteins on the other.
In a statement, co-author of the study, Prof Jianfeng Feng from Fudan University, said: “There are more than 100,000 proteins and many of their variants in the human body. AI and high throughput proteomics (the study of proteomes) can help us pinpoint some key proteins in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in many human diseases and revolutionise the traditional view of human health.”
The researchers noted 175 proteins associated with social isolation and 26 proteins associated with self-reported loneliness, many of which overlapped — approximately 85% of the proteins associated with loneliness were shared with social isolation. Most of these proteins were found at higher levels in people who had reported social isolation or loneliness.
“Many 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,” according to a press statement by the University of Cambridge.
Researchers found that one of the proteins produced at higher levels due to loneliness was ADM. Previous studies have found that ADM plays a part in responding to stress and in regulating stress hormones and social hormones such as oxytocin — the so-called “love hormone” — which can reduce stress and improve mood, the statement said.
Another protein known as ASGR1, which was found to be in high levels, is associated with higher cholesterol and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Other proteins that were identified play a role in the development of insulin resistance, cancer progression, etc.
“The proteins we have identified give us clues to the biology underpinning poor health among people who are socially isolated or lonely, highlighting why social relationships play such an important part in keeping us healthy,” Feng said.
