We all get lonely from time to time, but for some,
the ache of isolation is partly genetic. That's the finding of a new
study that looked at the risk of
loneliness as a lifelong trait as opposed to a temporary feeling.
While it’s normal for anyone to feel down when they’re by themselves
in certain circumstances (say, after your roommate has moved out,
or you've just landed in a new city), the researchers wanted to know if
certain people were predisposed to feel this way more often. So they
looked at genetic and health information from more than 10,000 Americans
ages 50 and older, including their answers to three questions designed
to measure loneliness:
- How often do you feel that you lack companionship?
- How often do you feel left out?
- How often do you feel isolated from others?
(The questions did not directly ask about loneliness, the researchers
say, because many people are reluctant to admit feeling that way.)
After they looked at a variety of genetic variations—and controlled
for gender, age, and marital status—the researchers, from the University
of California San Diego School of Medicine, found that the tendency to
feel lonely over a lifetime is “modestly heritable.” They estimate that
it's 14% to 27% genetic, but that the rest is based on a person’s
upbringing, surroundings, and other modifiable factors.
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In other words, some people are genetically programmed to feel lonely
in the same situations in which others would feel content. “For two
people with the same number of close friends and family, one might see
their
social structure as adequate
while the other doesn’t,” said lead investigator Abraham Palmer, PhD,
professor of psychiatry and vice chair for basic research at UC San
Diego, in a press release.
Other scientific estimates for loneliness have found that the trait
is 37% to 55% heritable, but this new study was much larger than
previous ones. It did look at fewer genetic variations, however—earlier
analyses included rare variants that were not studied here—which could
also explain the difference in findings, the authors wrote.
The new study, published last week in the journal
Neuropsychopharmacology,
also concluded that loneliness tends to be inherited along with
neuroticism, defined as a long-term negative emotional state. It also
found weak links between loneliness and schizophrenia,
bipolar disorder, and clinical
depression.
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Even without these associations, loneliness is a serious issue itself. It’s been linked to
higher rates of heart disease and stroke,
lower rates of physical activity, and
weakened immunity. In fact, the authors point out, it’s an even more accurate
predictor of early death than obesity.
Palmer says that loneliness is part of the body’s biological warning
system that has evolved to alert us of threats, in the same way that
physical pain alerts does. But it’s clear that not everyone perceives
these threats in the same way.
Unlike in previous, smaller studies, Palmer’s team did not find any
specific gene variants to be responsible for loneliness. (Scientists
have speculated that genes involved in regulating brain chemicals, such
as dopamine and oxytocin, may play a role.) The group is working to find
these so-called genetic predictors, in hopes of gaining more insight
into how, exactly, loneliness is passed down on the molecular level.
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Although the study does not provide advice for people who are
perpetually lonely, it may be reassuring to know that the feeling isn’t
entirely predetermined by genetics. It also reinforces the idea that
loneliness isn’t always at it appears.
“It’s important to note that someone can be alone, or have only a handful of close friends,
and not be lonely,” Bruce Rabin, MD, director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Healthy Lifestyle Program, previously told
Health. “Or you can be a social butterfly and out with friends every night of the week and still feel isolated.”
So joining lots of social groups isn’t necessarily the best way to
feel better, although it may work for some people. Rather, Dr. Rabin
(who was not involved in the new study) recommends
volunteering. Helping others will almost certainly boost your mood, and you’ll likely meet others with whom you can form real connections.
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How passive you are depends on your 