Loneliness: A Hidden Enemy of the Heart and the Immune System

Researchers found that active human connections boost the immune system. It’s time to polish those social skills!

Proteins: the Gossipers of the Body

The journal Nature Human Behavior published a study detailing how an active social life serves as an elixir for the immune system. Scientists analyzed blood samples from more than 42,000 people and found proteins that act as messengers of loneliness and isolation.

Barbara Sahakian, an expert on the subject, reminds us that social contact is essential for our well-being. Did you know they identified 175 proteins related to isolation? It's as if our body has its own internal social network!

Do you like drama? Well, here it comes: five specific proteins appear at high levels due to loneliness, with ADM being a star of this molecular tragedy. This protein is linked to stress and the famous "love hormone," oxytocin. High levels of ADM are associated with an increased risk of premature death. And to think it all started with a simple lack of friends!

Alone but not healthy

Let's delve into the science of a broken heart, literally. The ASGR1 protein, another main character in the study, is associated with high cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. So, if you thought ice cream was the only culprit, think again.

The researchers found that both ADM and ASGR1 are linked to biomarkers such as CRP, a sign of inflammation. And that's not all! Other proteins are involved in insulin resistance and the hardening of arteries. It seems that isolation not only breaks hearts but also arteries.

And now what? It's time to socialize!

Jianfeng Feng, another researcher from the study, gives us a clue about the biology behind the poor health of loners. Social relationships are crucial for keeping us healthy.

Are you surprised? Well, you shouldn't be. Experts have been warning about this for a long time, but now science supports it. The next time you prefer to stay at home, remember that a simple chat can be more powerful than you think. And if not for your health, do it for the gossip!