As we’ve previously noted, one of the most distressing casualties of the pandemic has been the social isolation and loneliness that’s arisen because of the need to physically distance and quarantine. And while older adults have suffered more than other populations from COVID infections, feelings of loneliness during the pandemic have arisen not only among older individuals but among young adults as well. In fact, in a recent study from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, researchers found that “a staggering 61% of young adults aged 18-25 and 51% of mothers with young children reported serious loneliness,” during the pandemic. As a society, we will likely be dealing with the repercussions of social isolation and loneliness well beyond our efforts to vaccinate everyone.

There appear to be important medical reasons why long-term or unresolved loneliness should not be ignored. Brain health researchers at MIT are reporting that the need for social contact appears to be hardwired into the brain, similar to the way on a primitive level our brains understand the essential need for food and water for survival.  In fact, experts discuss the need for  “a new neuroscience of loneliness” in order to determine why social engagement is so crucial to our health and well-being. Moreover, a new study out of Boston University Medical Center and published in the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association reports that ongoing loneliness during middle age can heighten the risk of developing Alzheimer’s when such adults enter their later years. The study looked at adults ages 45-64 over an 18-year period and found that persistent loneliness was a threat to brain health. But interestingly, those whose loneliness was only temporary and who persevered to overcome their situation instead had a smaller risk of dementia than those who never experienced loneliness at all. Such results suggest that the resilience in overcoming loneliness may have a protective effect on brain health and that those who have experienced transient loneliness during the pandemic but then eventually re-engage socially, may not experience long-term detriments. For more insights from this research, grab a friend and read here.

The research also underscores the value in efforts to socially engage on some level, even if remotely. In a recent interview in Greater Good Magazine, neuroscientist Daniel Levitin commented that loneliness can also lead to problems in the immune system as well as an increase in stress levels. He urges those who are lonely (or are the loved ones of the lonely) to arrange regular zoom chats or phone calls as a way of creating a schedule and structure and an upcoming event to look forward to. He also urges those who feel lonely to create external obligations to focus attention and cognition, as a way to counteract the negative aspects of being lonely. As well, many innovative programs have arisen, both prior to and during the pandemic, to relieve the loneliness of both young adults as well as older individuals, by bringing both populations together, either virtually or in person. Whether through shared housing or mutually beneficial relationships where young and old can learn and share with each other, efforts have begun to try to alleviate loneliness and create lasting relationships across different demographics. 

Such programs have arrived just in time, as the pandemic has underscored one central point: Social determinants, be they poverty, discrimination, or even social isolation, play a critically important role in the health and well-being of all members of society.  In fact, a recent commentary in JAMA stated that “Social determinants of health have been found to be responsible for 80% to 90% of health outcomes, and an abundance of research has demonstrated that no matter the advancements in medicine and health care, the health of individuals and communities will not improve if these root-cause social factors are not addressed.” Perhaps then a silver lining of the pandemic has been the light that has shined on both younger and older populations who struggle with social isolation and loneliness. We cannot forget this when we return to whatever new normal awaits us- screening for and identifying lonely individuals who will benefit from social engagement needs to be a priority in the years to come.