Being single ages you faster and increases your risk of an early death, study suggests

BEING single ages you faster and increases your risk of an early death, a new study suggests.

Scientists found people who didn’t have a partner were biologically older and more likely to die from a variety of causes.

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The same was also true for those who didn’t belong to any social club or organisation, didn’t take part in social activities, didn’t talk to friends or family on the phone, didn’t see pals or relatives in person, and didn’t attend church or religious services.

Senior author and cardiologist Amir Lerman said: “This study highlights the critical interplay between social isolation, health and ageing.

“Social isolation combined with demographic and medical conditions appears to be a significant risk factor for accelerated ageing and mortality.

“But we also know that people can change their behaviour — have more social interaction, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, stop smoking, get adequate sleep, and so on.

“Making and sustaining these changes may go a long way towards improving overall health.”

Researchers from Rochester in Minnesota, US, looked at the link between social isolation and biological ageing – defined as how old your cells are (versus your true age, or how long you’ve been alive).

They followed 280,324 men and women aged over 18 who were outpatients at Mayo Clinic between 2019 and 2022.

Each completed a questionnaire about their social lives and had a heart test known as an electrocardiography (ECG) within a year.

The questionnaire was multiple choice and asked them:

• Do you belong to any clubs or organisations such as church groups, unions, fraternal or athletic groups, or school groups? – Yes (1), No (0), Decline (n/a)
• How often do you attend meetings of the clubs or organisations you belong to? – Never (0), One to four times a year (0), More than four times a year (1), Decline (n/a)
• In a typical week, how many times do you talk on the telephone with family, friends, or neighbours? – Never (0), Once a week (0), Twice a week (0), Three times a week (0), More than three times week (1), Decline (n/a)
• How often do you attend church or religious services? – Never (0), One to four times a year (0), More than four times a year (1), Decline (n/a)
• How often do you get together with friends or relatives? – Never (0), Once a week (0), Twice a week (0), Three times a week (1), More than three times week (1), Decline (n/a)
• Are you now married, widowed, divorced, separated, never married, or living with a partner? – Never married (0), Separated (0), Divorced (0), Widowed (0), Living with partner (1), Married (1), Decline (n/a)

A score of 0 or 1 was assigned to each response, and the total ranged from 0 to 4, representing the most to least social isolation.

Biological age was estimated based on ECG records, and the gap between this and someone’s true age was then calculated.

Previous studies have linked higher age gaps to a higher rate of total and cardiovascular disease mortality, and lower ones to slower biological ageing.

This is the case even when factoring in someone’s age, sex, ethnicity and history of conditions like heart failure and cancer.

The scientists in this study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Advances, discovered that a better social network was associated with an increased age gap in all sex and age groups.

But a socially isolated lifestyle had a greater impact on younger people compared to older age groups.

During the two-year follow-up period, about five per cent of participants died.

Those who scored 0 and 1 on the social test had the highest risk of death compared to other groups.

The most common causes were high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia (elevated lipid levels), and chronic kidney disease.

The team now hope to explore the extent to which your biological age can be lowered.