Isolation, Loneliness May Raise Death Risk for Elderly
Study found lack of social contact a bigger predictor of early death than just feeling alone
MONDAY, March 25, 2013 (HealthDay News) — Elderly people who are socially isolated and lonely may be at greater risk of early death, British researchers report.
Lack of social contact might be an even bigger risk factor than loneliness, they added. Why, however, isolation is such a powerful predictor of death isn’t clear.
“Social contact is a fundamental aspect of human existence. The scientific evidence is that being socially isolated is probably bad for your health, and may lead to the development of serious illness and a reduced life span,” said lead researcher Andrew Steptoe, director of the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care at University College London. Read More
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