A recent study conducted by the Mayo Clinic has found a significant correlation between social isolation and signs of accelerated aging, as well as an increased risk of mortality. The study, which was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Advances, highlights the importance of social connections in maintaining physical health and extending life expectancy.
Previous research has already shown that social isolation can lead to poorer health outcomes, higher medical expenses, and increased rates of hospitalization. This new study, however, goes further by exploring how social isolation might actually accelerate biological aging. Using an AI-enabled algorithm for age estimation, researchers analyzed data from over 280,000 adults seeking outpatient care at the Mayo Clinic.
Participants in the study were selected based on their completion of the Social Network Index questionnaire and the availability of ECG records. The results showed that individuals with high levels of social isolation were found to be slightly biologically older than their chronological age and had a higher risk of mortality. On the other hand, those with strong social connections were biologically younger than their actual age and had a lower risk of mortality.
The study’s authors, which include Nazanin Rajai, Jose R. Medina-Inojosa, and Amir Lerman, emphasized the need for interventions targeting the negative health impacts of social isolation. Some of the limitations of the study include a lack of diverse racial representation and the challenges of using AI-ECG for age estimation.
According to the researchers, future studies are needed to explore whether improving social connections can delay or even reverse the process of biological aging. These findings shed light on the importance of social relationships in maintaining overall health and well-being.
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