How does social isolation influence the brain?

Loneliness makes your brain work differently, study shows. Social isolation can cause our brains to become more alert to threats ... a million elderly people often go a whole month without speaking to anyone. And now researchers have shown being lonely can actually have a physical impact on your brain. read more

According to researcher John Cacioppo at the University of Chicago, 20 percent of all people are unhappy because of social isolation at any given moment [source: Seligman]. For decades now, researchers have tracked the effects of loneliness and isolation on our physical health. read more

The researchers now suspect that social isolation somehow reduces the amount of neuregulin-1 in the brain, leading to the oligodendrocyte and myelin problems. Next, Corfas said, the goal is to understand which facet of isolation is responsible for the changes and how the isolation acts to changed neuregulin-1 production. read more

Social isolation results in a lack of opportunities for social engagement and mental stimulation, activities that are thought to keep the brain in good condition and reduce the risk of dementia. Obviously, declining health and loss of independence can be the cause rather than the effect of loneliness and isolation. read more