Scientists have found out who ages faster than their actual age

Social isolation and loneliness can accelerate biological aging — this is the conclusion reached by scientists after analyzing data from nearly 310,000 people. The greatest effect was observed in those who experienced both conditions simultaneously. The results of this large-scale study were published in the journal Health Psychology.

A group of researchers from Chinese medical institutions turned to the UK Biobank database, covering 309,746 participants. At the start of the observation period, the average age of volunteers was approximately 56 years, and their health was monitored over a period of 14.4 years.

The scientists distinguished between two phenomena. Social isolation was assessed using objective criteria: living alone, infrequent contact with others, and the absence of regular group activities. Loneliness, on the other hand, was recorded as a subjective experience — an inner feeling of abandonment and the lack of a close person to confide in.

The biological age of participants was calculated using the PhenoAge formula, based on blood markers reflecting inflammation levels and organ function. The specialists then determined how much the result diverged from what would be expected for the individual's actual chronological age.

Even after adjustments for lifestyle, socioeconomic conditions, and existing diseases, the findings remained significant. Participants in the most isolated group turned out to be biologically older by an average of approximately four months, while those experiencing loneliness were approximately three months older. When both factors overlapped, the differences reached their maximum.

These are small average deviations in a calculated indicator. Interpreting them as a loss of specific months of life or as a prediction for any individual would be incorrect. The observational nature of the study also does not allow for a clear distinction between the impact of social connection deficits and the reverse effect, in which declining health itself makes social interaction more difficult.

The authors of the study emphasize that objective isolation and subjective loneliness must be considered as independent and distinct components affecting human health.