At times we can feel lonely and social isolation can affect you at any age at any time. While I often focus on the physical and mental links to health, today we will look at the third component to my BBC bitesize definition of health - social connection. While the evidence regarding humans and health is limiting, the same detrimental effects have been seen in eusocial species like ants. Here, we also look at some data where social isolation in the ants was linked to increased reactive oxygen species and how melatonin helped rescue the decrease in lifespan.

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TIMESTAMPS:
Intro - 00:00
Why it impacts health - 04:24
Solutions? - 05:58

References
Koto, A., Tamura, M., Wong, P.S. et al. Social isolation shortens lifespan through oxidative stress in ants. Nat Commun 14, 5493 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41...
Keller, L., Genoud, M. Extraordinary lifespans in ants: a test of evolutionary theories of ageing. Nature 389, 958–960 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/40130
Social relationships and physiological determinants of longevity across the human life span - https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073...
The PLoS Medicine Editors (2010) Social Relationships Are Key to Health, and to Health Policy. PLoS Med 7(8): e1000334. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed....


Please note that The Sheekey Science Show is distinct from Eleanor Sheekey's teaching and research roles at the University of Cambridge. The information provided in this show is not medical advice, nor should it be taken or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The Sheekey Science Show and guests assume no liability for the application of the information discussed.