A new study conducted by researchers from the Brigham Young University in Utah revealed that loneliness not only affects a person mentally but it can even lead to early death among individuals.

The study’s findings showed that people who are always alone die at a younger age. Researchers for the study analyzed data of 35 years. The researchers for the study examined nearly 3 million participants for their study.

Researchers after the analysis of the data concluded that loneliness can cause physical as well as mental damage to a particular person.

As per researchers, result of the study was controlled of veracious factors that might affect the study result such as age, socioeconomic status, gender and current illness.

They results showed that loneliness caused about 26% of the study’s participants to die prematurely whereas isolation caused 29% of participants to die prematurely. Also, people who lived alone had 32% of risk of dying early.

Study researchers said that younger individuals who were alone had higher risk of dying than older people in their 60s.

They said that the results of their study were quite scary as they found that more number of people in their study wanted to live alone and on their own.

In experts’ view though, loneliness doesn’t exist anymore since there are more ways to communicate such as through social media and virtual network.

Another study from the University of Michigan showed that loneliness is contagious in social network environments. The study showed that social media can add to loneliness and can reduce satisfaction.

Julianne Holt-Lunstad said, “We need to start taking our social relationships more seriously. So go out there and talk to a friend, hug your parents, kiss your child, or just be with someone, it may save your life”.