Social isolation linked to poorer immunity

Researchers from  Ohio State University report loneliness can affect a person’s physical health. Being lonely does more than just make a person feel sad, people who said they felt lonely showed more inflammation in response to stress, and higher levels of reactivation of a latent herpes virus, which is a sign of poor immunity.

Chronic inflammation is associated with numerous conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease, as well age-related physical and mental decline, the researchers said