Named an unobvious factor of accelerated aging

Lack of social interaction and feelings of loneliness can negatively affect a person's biological age and increase the risk of death. A particularly pronounced effect is observed in those who experience both conditions simultaneously.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to the journal Health Psychology, Chinese scientists studied data from more than 309,000 participants in the British UK Biobank project. The average age of the volunteers was 56 years, and the observation period lasted approximately 14 years.

The analysis showed that the most socially isolated individuals had a biological age that exceeded the expected age by an average of four months, while for those experiencing loneliness it was three months higher. When these factors were combined, the signs of accelerated aging were even more noticeable.

Furthermore, each additional point on the social isolation scale was associated with a 13.9% increase in the relative risk of death from any cause, and on the loneliness scale — with an 8.9% increase.

The researchers also noted that attending sports clubs, gyms, and participating in religious life are associated with more favorable biological aging indicators.