Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40317389›Full record

ArticleAging clinical and experimental research2025

Social isolation, loneliness and the relationship with serum biomarkers, functional parameters and mortality in older adults.

Stefanie Braig, Michael D Denkinger, Dhayana Dallmeier, Jochen Klenk, Dietrich Rothenbacher, ActiFE Study Group

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Article in Aging clinical and experimental research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Stefanie BraigInstitute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 22, 89081, Ulm, Germany. stefanie.braig@uni-ulm.de.
Michael D DenkingerResearch Unit on Ageing, Geriatric Center Ulm/Alb-Donau, AGAPLESION Bethesda Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Dhayana DallmeierResearch Unit on Ageing, Geriatric Center Ulm/Alb-Donau, AGAPLESION Bethesda Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Jochen KlenkInstitute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 22, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
Dietrich RothenbacherInstitute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 22, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
ActiFE Study Group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPathways between social isolation (SI), loneliness and health are unclear.

aimsTo analyze the relationship between SI and loneliness with biomarkers of inflammation, cardiac and immune function, functional parameters, and mortality.

methodsSI (Lubben Social Network Scale) from family, friends, and overall as well as loneliness (single direct question) were assessed at baseline in a population-based cohort study of 1459 community-dwelling adults aged 65 + in Germany. Serum biomarkers and functional parameters measured at baseline and at three-year follow-up included high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-cTnI), high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT), gait speed, and hand grip strength. We used linear and Cox regression analyses adjusted for age and sex (model 1) and established confounders (model 2).

resultsHigh SI from friends was associated with small but significant adverse associations with some biomarkers (hs-CRP, GDF-15, hs-cTnT) at follow-up (model 1). High SI from family associated with NT-proBNP (model 2), high SI and moderate to severe loneliness with lower gait speed. Loneliness was linked to hs-CRP at baseline, but SI was a stronger predictor of biomarker levels. High SI overall (Hazard ratio 1.39, 95% CI 1.15; 1.67, model 2) was associated with increased 10-year mortality. DISCUSSION: Mainly SI from friends is linked to unfavorable biomarker profiles with small associations. Overall SI was negatively associated with functional parameters and positively with mortality.

conclusionsFurther research should confirm our findings using, e.g. a multidimensional assessment of loneliness.

Indexed as

BiomarkersLonelinessMortalitySocial IsolationAgedAged, 80 and overCohort StudiesC-Reactive ProteinFemaleGermanyGrowth Differentiation Factor 15Hand StrengthHumansMaleNatriuretic Peptide, BrainPeptide FragmentsBiomarkersC-Reactive ProteinGDF15 protein, humanGrowth Differentiation Factor 15Natriuretic Peptide, BrainPeptide Fragmentspro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76)Troponin ITroponin TBiomarkersCardiac markersLonelinessMortalitySocial isolation

Identifiers

PMID40317389
PMCPMC12049398

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.