Australian scientists have announced that a lack or absence of social communication may be a cause of cardiovascular diseases. According to the journal BMC Geriatrics, a scientific study conducted by researchers from Monash University suggests that the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in older age increases not only due to aging but also because of reduced communication with others.
Researchers reached this conclusion after studying data from 11,000 men and women aged over 70, collected over four and a half years. It was found that healthy elderly individuals who experience social isolation are 68% more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. This risk is doubled for those who have limited "social support" from their surroundings compared to those who are socially active.
The researchers indicated that if an elderly person's level of social interaction is once a month or less with only four relatives, they are experiencing a lack of social relationships. Social support is defined as having four or more relatives or friends that an elderly person can communicate with, discuss various issues, or seek help from. A person is considered lonely if they experience this feeling three days or more a week.
Professor Harry Jennings commented on the study's findings, stating, "Family and social support or community relations are not permanent in people's lives. As we evolve our understanding of the roles these factors play in cardiovascular health, efforts must be made to address them in order to help the elderly stay connected and receive proper support."
