Matthews, Timothy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9955-6524, Rasmussen, Line J H, Ambler, Antony, Danese, Andrea, Eugen-Olsen, Jasper, Fancourt, Daisy, Fisher, Helen L, Iversen, Kasper Karmark, Schultz, Martin, Sugden, Karen, Williams, Benjamin, Caspi, Avshalom and Moffitt, Terrie E (2023) Social isolation, loneliness, and inflammation: a multi-cohort investigation in early and mid-adulthood. Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity. ISSN 1090-2139 (Print), 0889-1591 (Online) (doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2023.11.022)

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Abstract

Social isolation and loneliness have been associated with poor health and increased risk for mortality, and inflammation might explain this link. We used data from the Danish TRIAGE Study of acutely admitted medical patients (N=6,144, mean age 60 years), and from two population-representative birth cohorts: the New Zealand Dunedin Longitudinal Study (N=881, age 45) and the UK Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study (N=1448, age 18), to investigate associations of social isolation with three markers of systemic inflammation: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and a newer inflammation marker, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), which is thought to index systemic chronic inflammation. In the TRIAGE Study, socially isolated patients (those living alone) had significantly higher median levels of suPAR (but not CRP or IL-6) compared with patients not living by themselves. Social isolation prospectively measured in childhood was longitudinally associated with higher CRP, IL-6, and suPAR levels in adulthood (at age 45 in the Dunedin Study and age 18 in the E-Risk Study), but only suPAR remained associated after controlling for covariates. Dunedin Study participants who reported loneliness at age 38 or age 45 had elevated suPAR at age 45. In contrast, E-Risk Study participants reporting loneliness at age 18 did not show any elevated markers of inflammation. In conclusion, social isolation in childhood was robustly associated with increased inflammation in adulthood, both in medical patients and in the general population. It was associated in particular with systemic chronic inflammation, evident from the consistently stronger associations with suPAR than other inflammation biomarkers.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	social isolation; loneliness; systemic inflammation; soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor; C-reactive protein; Interleukin-6; inflammatory biomarkers
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Mental Health Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	23 Nov 2023 10:09
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/44933

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