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Loneliness linked to fewer mental disease-free years

A healthy lifestyle was associated with a smaller loss of disease-free life expectancy related to social isolation, but the same pattern did not hold for loneliness. 

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • October 5, 2026

  • 4 min

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  • 1

    Loneliness and social isolation were linked to fewer years free of major chronic diseases, especially mental disorders.

  • 2

    The study analyzed data from 277,489 UK Biobank participants free of 7 major chronic diseases at baseline.

  • 3

    Women aged 50 with both loneliness and social isolation had 3.7 fewer years free of depression and anxiety than those without.

  • 4

    A healthier lifestyle was associated with longer disease-free life expectancy, particularly for social isolation.

  • 5

    The study's observational nature limits the ability to establish causal relationships between loneliness and disease-free years.

Original Source(s)

Loneliness linked to fewer mental disease-free years

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • October 5, 2026

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