A recent study conducted by Harvard University has unveiled a compelling connection between feelings of loneliness and the levels of a blood-clotting protein that can contribute to heart attacks and strokes. It is already known that social isolation triggers the "fight or flight" stress response, leading to an increase in fibrinogen, a protein associated with blood clotting in anticipation of injury and blood loss. However, excessive levels of fibrinogen can be detrimental to health, elevating blood pressure and causing the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries.
To investigate further, Harvard researchers compared the levels of this blood-clotting protein with the size of individuals' social networks, including friends and family. The findings demonstrated a clear correlation—when the number of social connections diminished, the level of fibrinogen escalated.
Interestingly, individuals with a mere five individuals in their social network exhibited a 20 percent higher fibrinogen level compared to those with 25 connections. Remarkably, having 10 to 12 fewer friends than the average had a similar impact on fibrinogen levels as engaging in smoking.
Lead author Dr. David Kim from Harvard Medical School highlighted the significance of comprehensively assessing a person's social network, as it can provide crucial insights into their cardiac risk, which might not be evident to the individuals themselves. He emphasized, "Social connectedness exhibits a noteworthy association with fibrinogen. If there is an independent causal relationship between social isolation and fibrinogen, leading to heart disease and stroke, then policies and interventions aimed at enhancing social connectedness could potentially yield health benefits beyond the well-known advantages of improved economic conditions."
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