2008 Woodie Awards
Genetic Pattern of Loneliness
Sarah Westen
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Sci/Tech
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Lonely people appear to be in a state of chronic inflammation, a condition often associated with conditions like cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease, Maggie Fox of Reuters Health reports.
Associate Professor Steve Cole from the University of California Los Angeles led a study which used a gene chip to look at the DNA of isolated people and found that those who described themselves as chronically lonely have distinct patterns of genetic activity, generally involving the immune system. "No wonder [lonely people] are more likely to get sick and die young," Fox reports.
The study does not identify if loneliness or the genetic variance came first. It could be that loneliness caused a change in gene structure, or, that genes predispose one to develop feelings of loneliness.
Whatever the case, the study does suggest there may be a way to help prevent the deadly effects of loneliness, says Cole.
"What this study shows is that the biological impact of social isolation reaches down into some of our most basic internal processes: the activity of our genes," Cole says. "We have known for years that there is this epidemiological relationship between social support - how many friends and family members you have around you - and a whole bunch of physical outcomes."
Studies have shown that people who characterize themselves as lonely have little social support and are more likely to die prematurely and to have infections, insomnia, high blood pressure, and cancer.
Cole says two theories may explain this phenomenon: the social provision theory, and the genetic theory.
The social provision theory is "about what other people do for you in a tangible, material sense. Like, if I am sick and I have got people around me, they will take me to the doctors, they will see I take my pills," Cole explains. "The other is that there is something about being isolated and lonely that changes your body."
This genetic theory was investigated in Cole's study and the results published in September in the journal Genome Biology.
Associate Professor Steve Cole from the University of California Los Angeles led a study which used a gene chip to look at the DNA of isolated people and found that those who described themselves as chronically lonely have distinct patterns of genetic activity, generally involving the immune system. "No wonder [lonely people] are more likely to get sick and die young," Fox reports.
The study does not identify if loneliness or the genetic variance came first. It could be that loneliness caused a change in gene structure, or, that genes predispose one to develop feelings of loneliness.
Whatever the case, the study does suggest there may be a way to help prevent the deadly effects of loneliness, says Cole.
"What this study shows is that the biological impact of social isolation reaches down into some of our most basic internal processes: the activity of our genes," Cole says. "We have known for years that there is this epidemiological relationship between social support - how many friends and family members you have around you - and a whole bunch of physical outcomes."
Studies have shown that people who characterize themselves as lonely have little social support and are more likely to die prematurely and to have infections, insomnia, high blood pressure, and cancer.
Cole says two theories may explain this phenomenon: the social provision theory, and the genetic theory.
The social provision theory is "about what other people do for you in a tangible, material sense. Like, if I am sick and I have got people around me, they will take me to the doctors, they will see I take my pills," Cole explains. "The other is that there is something about being isolated and lonely that changes your body."
This genetic theory was investigated in Cole's study and the results published in September in the journal Genome Biology.
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