Summary: Blood
samples taken from older adults who experienced social isolation had
higher levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein, two biomarkers of
inflammation.
Source: Wiley
In a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,
older US adults who experienced social isolation had higher blood
levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein, two markers of
inflammation that can have long-term negative consequences for the
health of individuals as they age.
The study included a nationally representative sample of 4,648 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older.
The
authors noted that clinical and social interventions that address
social isolation among older adults may influence biological processes
such as inflammation, as well as their potentially negative effects.
“Our
findings demonstrate an important association between social isolation
and biological processes. This work is a step in the journey to
disentangle the mechanisms by which social isolation leads to higher
levels of morbidity and mortality,” said lead author Thomas K.M. Cudjoe,
MD, MPH, of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
“My
hope is that investigators incorporate objective measures of social
isolation and biological markers in future longitudinal studies so that
we might continue to advance our understanding of these complex
biopsychosocial interactions.”
About this aging and inflammation research news
Author: Katherine Falzon
Source: Wiley
Contact: Katherine Falzon – Wiley
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: Open access. “Getting under the skin: Social isolation and biological markers in the National Health and Aging Trends Study” by Thomas K.M. Cudjoe et al. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society