Persistent social connection over time is associated with attenuated biological ageing assessed by AI-enabled electrocardiography
Authors' conclusion
Persistent social connection is associated with slower biological ageing and lower mortality.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals without significant cardiovascular disease (CVD) who completed ≥2 Berkman and Syme Social Network Index questionnaires with paired ECGs within 1 year of each
- Participants
- 17,663 individuals
- Exposure
- Longitudinal social isolation (SI) status vs persistently connected
- Outcome
- Δage-gap (change in gap between AI-ECG-predicted age and chronological age from baseline to follow-up)
Methodological detailslongitudinal
- Longitudinal
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Δage-gap (multivariable linear regression)
β
+0.412 years
P < 0.001
Persistently isolated
β
+0.438 years
P = 0.012
Becoming isolated
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | aHR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-cause mortality (multivariable Cox)Becoming isolatedvs Persistently connectedIndependent of chronological age and comorbidities | 1.94 (1.53–2.46) | P < 0.001 | |
| All-cause mortality (multivariable Cox)Persistently isolatedvs Persistently connectedIndependent of chronological age and comorbidities | 1.66 (1.40–1.96) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.512Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Persistent social connection over time is associated with attenuated biological ageing assessed by AI-enabled electrocardiography. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 16 June 2026. doi:10.
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