3 ms·

Loneliness may warp our genes, and our immune systems

38 points by gpvos 11y ago

rlpb 11y ago
This journalist appears to be unable to distinguish between correlation and causation.
- gpvos 11y ago
  According to the study, causation actually goes both ways. > What Canli finds really interesting about Cole's results is that people who felt lonely one year had increased gene activity around inflammation and norepinephrine later on. And people who had increased inflammation felt lonelier the next year. "It's a two-way street," he said. "Loneliness predicted biological changes, and biological changes predicted changes in loneliness."
  - rlpb 11y ago
    Again, this finds a correlation, not causation. There could be some external factor which influences both measured metrics. Canli as quoted clearly does understand the difference, because he states that one predicts the other, which is distinguishing it from causation. But the article as written implies causation without any justification for this additional leap.
    - gpvos 11y ago
      Yes, you're correct. Prediction is still not the same as causation.
nonbel 11y ago
>"CTRA gene expression was analyzed using mixed effect linear models (43) testing association between average expression of 53 CTRA indicator transcripts (44, 45) and either continuous UCLA Loneliness Scale scores or a 1/0 indicator of chronically high PSI (12) (UCLA Loneliness Scale score of ≥41 in at least 60% of measurements taken during study years 1–5) while controlling for study year, age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, household income, BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking history, and gene-specific differences in average expression level." http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/11/18/1514249112.abstract http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/11/18/1514249112.abst... They forgot that immune activity and gene expression are reported to be seasonal[1]. They should control for week of year that data was collected. If, for example, people who come by in the winter months are scored as "lonely" more often, this would correlate with expression levels of various genes even if the two are largely unrelated. [1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25965853 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25965853
wwzuk 11y ago
For those that consider themselves lonely, learn about (and practice) stoicism and meditation. They will stop the spiralling thought patterns that are making you ill. This in turn will boost your confidence and you will become more interesting to others around you. Oh, and lift weights - always lift weights they do good things for your health.
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38 points by gpvos 11y ago

rlpb 11y ago

This journalist appears to be unable to distinguish between correlation and causation.

gpvos 11y ago
According to the study, causation actually goes both ways. > What Canli finds really interesting about Cole's results is that people who felt lonely one year had increased gene activity around inflammation and norepinephrine later on. And people who had increased inflammation felt lonelier the next year. "It's a two-way street," he said. "Loneliness predicted biological changes, and biological changes predicted changes in loneliness."
- rlpb 11y ago
  Again, this finds a correlation, not causation. There could be some external factor which influences both measured metrics. Canli as quoted clearly does understand the difference, because he states that one predicts the other, which is distinguishing it from causation. But the article as written implies causation without any justification for this additional leap.
  - gpvos 11y ago
    Yes, you're correct. Prediction is still not the same as causation.

nonbel 11y ago

>"CTRA gene expression was analyzed using mixed effect linear models (43) testing association between average expression of 53 CTRA indicator transcripts (44, 45) and either continuous UCLA Loneliness Scale scores or a 1/0 indicator of chronically high PSI (12) (UCLA Loneliness Scale score of ≥41 in at least 60% of measurements taken during study years 1–5) while controlling for study year, age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, household income, BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking history, and gene-specific differences in average expression level." http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/11/18/1514249112.abstract http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/11/18/1514249112.abst... They forgot that immune activity and gene expression are reported to be seasonal[1]. They should control for week of year that data was collected. If, for example, people who come by in the winter months are scored as "lonely" more often, this would correlate with expression levels of various genes even if the two are largely unrelated. [1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25965853 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25965853

wwzuk 11y ago

For those that consider themselves lonely, learn about (and practice) stoicism and meditation. They will stop the spiralling thought patterns that are making you ill. This in turn will boost your confidence and you will become more interesting to others around you. Oh, and lift weights - always lift weights they do good things for your health.

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