What is the relationship between chronic loneliness and stroke?

A new study, led by Harvard's T. H. Chan School of Public Health, finds that chronic loneliness may increase the risk of stroke in older adults.

While previous research has linked loneliness to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, little has examined its effect on stroke risk specifically. 

Using 2006-2018 data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the new study assessed the relationship between changes in loneliness and stroke incidence over time.

12,161 participants, all adults aged 50 years or older who had never had a stroke, answered questions about loneliness (during 2006-2008).

After 4 years (2010-2012), 8936 participants answered the same questions again. 

The research team found that 1,237 strokes occurred during the follow-up period (2006-2018). There were 601 strokes during the follow-up period (2010-2018) among participants who provided information about their feelings of loneliness.

The researchers analyzed each group's risk of stroke during the follow-up period in the context of their experiences with loneliness, controlling for other health and behavioral risk factors, including social isolation and depressive symptoms, which are closely related to but different from loneliness.

The results showed a link between loneliness and an increased risk of stroke.

The study found that chronic loneliness increases the risk of stroke more than other types, but the effect occurs in the long term.

“Our study suggests that loneliness may play an important role in stroke, which is already one of the leading causes of long-term disability and mortality worldwide,” said lead author Yeni Soh, a research associate in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The study was published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.