Two studies published in the June 2012 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine demonstrate that middle-aged and elderly people who feel lonely are more likely to die earlier and be less able to take care of themselves than their connected counterparts. 

In the first study, University of California, San Francisco researchers looked at data from the Health and Retirement study featuring 1,604 adults with an average age of 71. The researchers found a strong correlation between feelings of loneliness and an increased risk of premature death. The lonely people also had a decreased ability to perform daily activities such as lifting and carrying things heavier than 10 pounds, walking and climbing stairs. 

It surprised the researchers to find that loneliness does not necessarily mean living alone. Even though 43 percent of the adults surveyed said they felt lonely, only 18 percent lived alone. 

“Asking about chronic diseases is not enough,” said lead author Carla Perissinotta, MD, assistant professor in the UCSF Division of Geriatrics. “There’s much more going on in people’s homes and their communities that is affecting their health. If we don’t ask about it, we are missing a very important and independent risk factor.” She explains that it may not be possible to change genetic risk of disease, but “we can intervene when someone is lonely and help prevent some functional decline."

The second study showed that the link between loneliness and premature death is not limited to the elderly. This study found that people age 45 to 65 who lived alone were 24 percent more likely to die during the four-year study period than people of the same age who lived with someone.

To ensure people get the help and support they need, Perissinotta encourages them to share feelings of loneliness and isolation with their primary care physician.