Did you know that loneliness can negatively affect your brain and overall health?
We all know the painful pangs of loneliness. From craving a reassuring hug to someone to talk to after a long day, we’ve all felt loneliness.
Since the dawn of time, people have always had the need to interact with other people. It’s a basic need as vital as getting a sufficient amount of sleep and being well-nourished.
Throughout human history, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, says, “We’ve had to rely on others for our survival, whether that’s protection from physical threats or our need for a sense of community.” In terms of neuroscience, our brains have changed to accommodate social proximity.
Loneliness can have detrimental effects on one’s health. It is a major risk factor for depression and various forms of anxiety. Katherine Peters, MD, PhD, FAAN, associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at Duke University, says, “Loneliness can change the neurochemistry of the brain, turning off the dopamine neurons, which trigger the reward response, and causing some degeneration in the brain when the reward response is not activated.” Loneliness is also associated with other cognitive deficits and lower cognitive function.
Chronic loneliness can even impact your memory. According to research, loneliness is associated with reductions in brain-derived neurotrophic factors. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a protein vital for neuronal health, cognition, and memory. Loneliness can lead to mild cognitive impairment, which increases the risk of dementia in older adults.
The effects of loneliness aren’t isolated to unhealthy individuals, even healthy adults can experience pain caused by loneliness. We need to socialise to keep our brains stimulated. Even if you are physically healthy, you are still susceptible to the harmful effects of loneliness. Furthermore, loneliness can also increase your stress levels and depress your immune system, making you feel sick for longer.
The harmful effects of loneliness have serious complications. It’s important that you are able to meet your social needs. After all, socialising can be fun and, as proven by various medical professionals, can have long-lasting health benefits.
Also see: The benefits of taking ice baths
