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Being Isolated Found To Skyrocket Stroke Risk

New data suggests that experiencing chronic loneliness during middle and old age significantly increases the likelihood of having a stroke, according to findings from a 12-year study of individuals over 50 years old. The research, led by Yenee Soh, a research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health, underscores loneliness as a growing public health concern with potential serious implications.

Soh emphasized the study’s implications, noting that chronic loneliness appears to play a significant role in stroke incidence, which is already a leading cause of long-term disability and mortality worldwide. The study, published in eClinicalMedicine, analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study spanning from 2006 to 2018.

Over 12,000 participants without a history of stroke at the study’s onset completed loneliness assessments using standardized tests. Approximately 8,900 participants were re-evaluated in 2010. During the study period, 1,237 strokes occurred among the participants, with 601 strokes reported among those who were surveyed for loneliness at two time points.

The study categorized individuals into four loneliness groups based on their survey responses: “consistently low,” “remitting,” “recent onset,” and “consistently high.” Those in the “consistently high” loneliness group demonstrated a 56% higher likelihood of experiencing a stroke compared to those in the “consistently low” group. Importantly, this association persisted even after adjusting for other psychological factors like depression and social isolation.

While any level of loneliness observed during the study was linked to increased stroke risk, the study did not find a clear pattern of risk for individuals whose loneliness fluctuated over time, suggesting that chronic loneliness poses the greatest health hazard.

Soh suggested that regular assessments of loneliness could help identify individuals at higher risk for stroke due to chronic loneliness. She stressed the need for interventions that specifically target loneliness, distinguishing it from social isolation and emphasizing the subjective nature of loneliness perception.

The findings highlight the critical need for both individual and systemic efforts to address chronic loneliness as a preventive measure against stroke and other serious health outcomes among older adults.