The results suggest that social isolation produces an overexpression of genes linked to inflammation , while the antiviral response and the production of antibodies are diminished. The research is the first to explain from a molecular point of view why social isolation is typically linked to an increased risk of heart disease, viral infections and cancer . "We have verified that what counts at the genetic level is not how many people you know, but how many you feel really close to," explains Steve Cole, co-author of the study published in the Journal of Genome Biology .
Journal of Genome Biology (http://genomebiology.com/)
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