sharkysharkie t1_jdqiod2 wrote on March 26, 2023 at 12:08 PM

Reply to comment by MNAK_ in Research found after six years spent tracking health outcomes among nearly 925,000 Danish seniors, investigators determined that when a man between the ages of 65 and 69 loses his wife he is 70% more likely to die in the year that follows, when compared with his non-widowed peers by Wagamaga

>Seems more likely the men just spiral into unhealthy habits without someone to cook, clean, and take care of them.

It is very wrong to assume the only reason why these husbands die shortly after is because they lost their ‘servants’. In fact I laughed. Loneliness and social isolation is a terribly strong factor for diseases.

The more isolated people are, the less happy they are, and brain function declines as well as physical health.

“The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80,” says Robert Waldinger, a psychology professor at Harvard Medical School.Those who kept warm relationships got to live longer and happier, said Waldinger, and the loners often died earlier. “Loneliness kills,” he said. “It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.”.