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Human beings are fundamentally social animals. To have survived for millennia as hunter-gatherers in often harsh environments, individuals depended for their lives on strong bonds with a tightly knit social group. High-quality social connections are essential for our mental and physical health and our well-being – at all ages. Social isolation and loneliness have serious consequences for longevity, health, and well-being.

Losing a sense of connection and community changes a person’s perception of the world. Someone experiencing chronic loneliness feels threatened and mistrustful of others, which activates a biological defense mechanism, according to Steve Cole, Ph.D., director of the Social Genomics Core Laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles. In older age, social isolation and loneliness increase the risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, cognitive decline, dementia, depression, anxiety, and suicide. They also shorten lives and reduce the quality of life.