Social Isolation is a Death Sentence
The Secret Wisdom Behind the Blue Zones of the World
Social isolation refers to being alone or having infrequent social connections, whereas loneliness is a lack of social connectedness. Not all who socially isolate are lonely, nor are those who are lonely exclusively socially isolated.
While social isolation may be the catalyst of short-term respite rooted in an intelligent coping tactic, prolonged isolation has lethal health risks.
In a life span study in the National Library of Medicine, Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to live either alone or in groups of five female rats. Unsurprisingly, breast cancer growth in the socially isolated increased up to 84 times compared to those of the same age group.
What’s more, in an article published by the American College of Cardiology, the loneliness resulting from social isolation increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart failure. The loneliness component was demonstrated to be critical in the risk of heart problems.
In support of the aforementioned claim, social isolation exacerbates loneliness, depression, poor sleep quality, impaired executive function, cognitive decline, and susceptibility to illness at every stage of life. This was confirmed in a review by Louise Hawkley, a Principal Research Scientist at the University of Chicago.
According to Dr. Gabor Maté in The Myth of Normal, isolation impairs DNA repair in parrots by shortening chromosome-protecting telomeres. He followed, “Social isolation inhibits the immune system, promotes inflammation, agitates the stress apparatus, and increases the risk of heart disease and strokes.”
There is evidence pointing to the health effects of social connection in The Village Effect by Susan Pinker. Pinker speaks of Blue Zones, areas of the world where people live the longest lives. These Blue Zones include Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica and Sardinia, Italy.
In a tight-knit community known in Italy called Sardinia, men live up to par with women. This is because Sardinians live in villages, continually surrounded and supported by friends, family, and strangers. Author and researcher Dan Buettner teamed up with medical researchers, anthropologists, demographers, and epidemiologists to search for common denominators amongst the Blue Zones.
They found nine evidence-based reasons for increased lifespan:
- Plant-Based Diet: A Mediterranean diet has been shown to increase health and longevity with an abundance of vegetables, beans, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and unprocessed oils.
- The 80% Rule: Rather than eating until you’re overly full, you solely eat until you’re no longer hungry.
- Move Naturally: As stated on Blue Zones, you don’t need to be a marathon runner to live longer. The simple incorporation of functional daily activities such as gardening and swimming can have lasting health benefits.
- Live with Purpose: Waking up every day with a sense of meaning can induce positive feelings, increasing your immunity to illness.
- Downshift: Slowing down through meditation and self-care practices can alleviate the burden of daily stressors, preventing the onset of cancer and heart disease.
- Drink Wine: A daily serving of red wine helps to combat chronic inflammation and stress with beneficial antioxidants called polyphenols.
- The Right Tribe: Surrounding yourself with people who uplift you fosters positive feelings and behaviours which have a ripple effect on your quality of life.
- Loved Ones First: The warmth of loving, caring relationships increases longevity. People in Blue Zones live close to loved ones. They also commit to a long-term partner (which increases life expectancy by up to three years) and focus on the well-being of their children.
- Belong: Many people living in Blue Zones are devoted to faith. Research has shown that regular attendance — 1 time per week — can add 4–14 years of life expectancy.
The saying “It takes a village to raise a child” originated from a fundamental truth. Before the industrial revolution purged mass rural living, people naturally gravitated toward a communal arrangement. Life was collectivistic, whereas today, in North America, an individualistic attitude prevails.
Furthermore, the presence of technology has added insult to injury. It is no longer necessary to venture outside of the home because everything is readily accessible via the iPhone and the Internet. There is less pull to connect face-to-face when you can chat with virtual pen pals, connect over Instagram, and be unwittingly consumed by the charm of the metaverse.
Communal living is the pinnacle of mental, spiritual, and physical health. An intricate system mutually benefits its participants; a harmonious existence is available to those who live in such a manner. Rather than becoming entrenched by the self-centred rat race that plagues the world’s metropolitan hubs, your purpose extends beyond the confines of your individual experience. You’re able to inch closer to life as it is — not what you narrowly perceive it to be.
Not merely is social connection helpful, but it is a core human need that creates abiding positive effects, including a sense of belonging, closeness, and affection. It also expands your web of resources, providing job and doctor referrals that can dramatically impact your life expectancy and quality.
By integrating the wisdom of the centenarians, the world can move toward a healthier mode of living centred around community, movement, conscious eating, and purposeful day-to-day living.
