I came across an article today that is proposing a pill to combat loneliness.
One in 10 Americans say they feel isolated from those around them all or most of the time; Half-a-million Japanese report suffering from social isolation and the United Kingdom appointed a minister for loneliness -- the first of its kind -- prompting leaders at the Davos World Economic Forum to discuss the growing global health concern last week.
Stephanie Cacioppo, director of the Brain Dynamics Lab at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, is researching a pill that she hopes will prevent at-risk individuals from experiencing chronic loneliness -- an undertaking that has been met with both interest and criticism in the scientific world.
"Being lonely increases the risk of dying earlier by 26 percent, which is actually more than obesity," Cacioppo told Fox News. "Loneliness is widespread and contagious. It is an epidemic."
Cacioppo is focusing on normalizing the levels of allopregnanolone -- a naturally produced neurosteroid in the body -- that as a result could address some of the loneliness-related biological changes in the brain. The pill, she says, is different from commonly used anti-depressants in that "we are targeting loneliness more specifically."
Source: Will a pill fix nation's loneliness 'epidemic'?
And I am thinking thats all the Aspie world needs is another pill!
The article ended with an alternative approach:
On her website, Gretchen Rubin, author of "The Happiness Project," outlines practical steps to fight off loneliness that don't involve medication. "Making a habit of nurturing others," notes Rubin -- like teaching a class or volunteering -- can lead to a greater sense of purpose and self-worth. "It's just as important to give support as to get support," she writes. Other behaviors include seeking out a group -- such a book club or workout class -- as well as improving an individual's quality of sleep.
03 Feb 2019, 8:03 am
