Senior Loneliness, A Risk Factor For Early Death

Loneliness affects your health.  The subject of loneliness amongst seniors has been coming to the forefront again, and it is mainly due to research which has declared it as a public health issue. In fact, the WHO (World Health Organization) now includes “social support networks” as a “determinant of health.” Nicole K. Valtorta et al  published one of several studies which have linked heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and insomnia to loneliness. There is also evidence to show that loneliness and social isolation predicted an increased risk of early death. Christina Victor Ph.D.,  a professor of gerontology and public health at Brunel University London, states that loneliness affects both young and old and home visits initiated by well meaning strangers around the holidays will not cure the problem. A meta-analysis (a statistical method used to combine data from multiple studies)