Studies have found that social isolation affects brain gene expression and is prone to tooth loss!

Social isolation can shrink brain size while increasing the risk of dementia, raising concerns that
working from home could exacerbate the problem.
Without stimulation from friends, family, and colleagues, the brain shrinks, which leads to neurodegeneration
.
Experts believe that social distancing, segregation and the current widespread work from home may exacerbate this impact
.

This article is the original of Translational Medicine Network, please indicate the source of reprinting

Author: kope

Studies have shown that social isolation directly causes structural changes in the brain associated with memory, reduces brain volume, and is associated with
a 26% increased risk of dementia.
People with high levels of social isolation are more likely to show significant differences in brain volume, have cognitive problems, and are at risk of dementia, and social isolation may be an early indicator
of an increased risk of dementia.

Increased risk of dementia

 01 

Recently, Professor Feng Jianfeng of Fudan University and researchers from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom published a research paper
in the journal Neurology.
The study showed that social isolation directly caused structural changes in the brain associated with memory, reduced brain volume, and was associated with
a 26% increased risk of dementia.
People with high levels of social isolation are more likely to show significant differences in brain volume, have cognitive problems, and are at risk of dementia, and social isolation may be an early indicator
of an increased risk of dementia.

The researchers followed 462619 people in the UK with an average age of 57 for 12 years and found that 1.
55% of socially isolated people developed dementia compared to those living a healthy social life
.
After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption, smoking, and depression, people who were socially isolated were 26 percent
more likely to be diagnosed with dementia.

Affects brain gene expression

 02 

Sarah Kocher's team, Princeton University: Research paper
on Isolation disrupts social interactions and destabilizes brain development in bumblebees.
The study found that social isolation disrupts future social interactions, affects brain gene expression, and disrupts brain development
.
To determine the neurobiological relevance of these differences, the team further examined gene expression in their brains, as well as the volume of
key brain regions.

The results of detection and analysis showed that social isolation disrupted the neurogenomic expression of bumblebees, and there were 27 significant differences in gene expression between bumblebees developed in isolation and bumblebees developed in collective environments, and there were 94 significant differences
in gene expression between bumblebees developed in isolation and bumblebees developed in group environments.
However, there was no significant difference
in gene expression between bumblebees developing in a group environment and bumblebees developing in a group environment.

Accelerates tooth loss

 03 

Social isolation and loneliness among older people is a worldwide public health problem and a risk factor for
heart disease, mental health disorders, cognitive decline and premature death.
According to the World Health Organization, up to one-third of older people feel lonely
in some countries, including the United States and China.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these problems for older adults, as many of their interpersonal interactions have been disrupted to protect older people from infection
.

Social isolation and loneliness are related, but different
.
Social isolation is an objective measure defined as little or no regular contact with society in social relationships with others, while loneliness is a feeling
that arises from a lack of social connection.
Older adults are also at risk for another health problem: tooth loss
.
In China, the average 65- to 74-year-old has fewer than 23 teeth (adults usually have 32 teeth, or 28 if wisdom teeth are extracted), and 4.
5% of this age group have lost all teeth
.
Gum disease, smoking, lack of dental care, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease increase the risk of
tooth loss.
Missing teeth can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life, affecting nutrition, language and self-esteem
.

Important for outbreak planning

 04 

For how social isolation is judged, people were asked if they lived with others, whether they visited friends or family at least once a month, and whether they attended social events at least once a week, such as clubs, meetings, or volunteer work
.
Those who answered "no" to at least two questions were considered socially isolated
.

Loneliness was also associated with later dementia, but this association was not significant
after adjusting for depressive factors.
The researchers say the findings are important for future outbreak planning to avoid people being quarantined
for long periods of time.
In the context of the ongoing global pandemic, social isolation and isolation from social networks have intensified
.
The researchers suggest that during any future pandemic lockdown, it is important that individuals, especially older adults, do not experience social isolation
for long periods of time.

Resources:

https://doi.
org/10.
1016/j.
cub.
2022.
04.
066

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Note: This article is intended to introduce the progress of medical research and cannot be used as a reference
for treatment options.
If you need health guidance, please go to a regular hospital
.