“Imagine a new treatment that could increase your survival by as much as 50%. It can also reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease by 29% and stroke by 32%. It can reduce your likelihood of developing depression and dementia. What I’m referring to is social connection. Although it’s not a new treatment, everyone should invest in their social connections,” said Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University.
This is one of the valuable pieces of information Dr. Holt-Lunstad shared during a virtual roundtable discussing social isolation and loneliness in older adults. These items are two issues that are affecting older adults at an alarming rate. According to The U.S. Surgeon General, Both matters are associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The General further explains that the mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Dr. Holt-Lunstad and two other professors expound on this subject to reveal what is causing this and what solutions should be applied.
“If you’re noticing something is off with a loved one, or they’re experiencing a major life or health transition, start a conversation. Ask them how they’ve been feeling lately. I’ve noticed that talking about loneliness or social isolation can sometimes be hard or awkward. Common phrases I use are, “I’ve noticed a lot of people have been feeling lonely recently. Is that something you’ve been experiencing?” Or, “Do you need help connecting with others?” said Dr. Ashwin Kotwal, assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.
The Loneliness and Longevity in Older Adults virtual panel was held in December 2023. Dr. Karen Fingerman, a professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, joined Dr. Holt-Lunstad and Dr.Kotwal. All three discussed the hazard of social isolation and how little things like handwritten cards make a huge difference.
“Back in the 1990s, I did a study of holiday cards, and this is back when people wrote little handwritten messages to people. We got them to fill out a survey for each of their cards. We looked at how much this mattered, and we’ve found that these cards made a difference in terms of their sense of belonging during the holiday season,” said Dr. Fingerman.
Dr. Holt-Lunstad spoke more on the topic of social connection. She explained how all aspects of social connection have been linked to health and longevity. She illustrated how social connection is an underappreciated factor in people’s lives.
“Social Connection is often seen as nice to have but not essential. Yet, it’s critical—it’s critical for individual and population health, well-being, community safety, resilience, and prosperity. Unfortunately, far too many people lack social connection in one or more ways, compromising these benefits.” said Dr. Holt-Lunstad.
Dr. Holt-Lunstad presented three vital components of social connection from the surgeon general advisory: structure, function, and quality. Structure in social connection involves the number of relationships, the variety of relationships, and the frequency of interactions with others. Function deals with the degree to which others can be relied upon for various needs. Quality is the last component. This entails the positive and negative aspects of relationships and interactions. All three elements are essential for health and influence health in different ways.
Dr. Kotwal categorized loneliness and social isolation as subjective and objective. He explains how loneliness asses that social relationships are lacking. In contrast, social isolation measures family, friends, or community connections. Life events that occur in older adults’ lives that can trigger the two issues are the death of a spouse, the death of friends or relatives, deteriorating physical health, and change in living arrangements.
Dr. Kotwal recommends combating the issues by providing space to discuss potential causes of social isolation and loneliness. A follow-up to that step is asking for an invitation to address the needs. Dr. Kotwal elaborates that items tied to the two issues can be personal; only some want you involved. However, if people are interested in helping, you can ask them what they think might help and invite them to brainstorm.
Dr. Kotwal believes this matter is big enough to establish policy. He breaks down how loneliness and isolation are common and may contribute enormously to suffering as individuals age and approach the last years of life. The doctor further explains how the medical system spends a lot on disease treatments, even when these treatments are costly and ineffective. Dr. Kotwal is convinced we need to think about how to prioritize spending more on social care, where we might significantly impact the quality of life.
“This is a call to action for everyone. Everybody can make a difference, and it starts by having a conversation, destigmatizing these topics, and providing space to help people process what might be challenging things they’re going through,” said Dr. Kotwal.