Loneliness, cause of death?

I doubt that it is a physical cause of death, but may well lead to self-neglect and malnutrition.

I agree GSM. Also depression.
Who are they btw?

Rather like 'Old age' which appears on death certificates - someone doesn't drop dead because they've reached a certain number, but the associated ailments take their toll.

The pandemic has shown how loneliness and isolation had a direct detrimental effect on physical and mental health.

She was a top model in the Mary Quant days.

How terribly sad.

Loneliness wouldn't I thought cause death or thousands would die a week. You can be lonely in a crowd of people . Germanshepherdsmum is right loneliness can cause some people to neglect themselves and forget to take tablets they need and eat and drink.

I am lonely for one person. My husband who died 18 years ago aged 47. Otherwise I am not lonely because I live on my own. I promised him I would love the best life I can and I do. I owe it to people who love and care about me to look after myself.

So there is no way loneliness would be on the death certificate as cause of death. Well that's my option others may disagree.

Are you referring to a report in The Times? If so, it's behind a paywall so I cannot read the article but I too doubt that loneliess is the official cause of death.

That said the CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) write:

Although it’s hard to measure social isolation and loneliness precisely, there is strong evidence that many adults aged 50 and older are socially isolated or lonely in ways that put their health at risk. Recent studies found that:

Social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.

Social isolation was associated with about a 50% percent increased risk of dementia.

Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) was associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.

Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.

Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.

I think we know this, don't we and why is it so important to try maintain social contact. The negative health effects of isolation during the pandemic have been well documented.

If you Google her you will be able to read her obituary from the Times , it is an interesting read.
She had a very happy marriage and from that one could also presume that she died of “ a broken heart”.
Another disputed cause of death.

Dying of a broken heart is a real, but rare cause of death, Japanese scientists have found a rare change in the heart that can cause death and is associaated with the deaaths of people who have recently undergone a close bereavement.
www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2019/march/can-you-die-from-a-broken-heart

I understand she had cancer - it was her son who said she died of loneliness because she missed her husband

M0nica

Dying of a broken heart is a real, but rare cause of death, Japanese scientists have found a rare change in the heart that can cause death and is associaated with the deaaths of people who have recently undergone a close bereavement.
www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2019/march/can-you-die-from-a-broken-heart

I was diagnosed with stress related Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, (broken heart syndrome) a year ago.

I’m so lucky it’s survivable and I have made a good recovery. It was a scary time for my poor family.

Loneliness and grief cause ongoing stress that can lead to illness.
Three weeks after my DH died I was covered in eczema. I had never suffered with it before and it lasted for 5 years. The dermatologist at the hospital said it was likely caused by grief that I had kept inside for the sake of my DD who was only 12.

I agree that stress can make you feel ill and hopeless. People in this position are more likely to take an overdose and go to bed. If you live alone its so simple ....

I think it is like when symptoms of a disease kill you. Neglecting yourself as a symptom of lonliness.

So very sad. RIP

That is so interesting merlot but awful for you of course. It would explain why sometimes when one partner dies another dies quite unexpectedly soon afterwards. I think more common in older people?