Medical Bulletin 26/May/2025

Despite a growing body of evidence linking social isolation and loneliness to serious health outcomes, new research reveals that both the general public and healthcare providers continue to overlook social connection as a critical component of physical health. The study, led by Brigham Young University psychology and neuroscience professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad and doctoral student Andrew Proctor, published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, shows that awareness around the health risks of social disconnection remains surprisingly low.

With loneliness and isolation trending on the internet, the researchers set up a study. In a nationally representative sample of US adults, as well as samples from the UK and Australia, they surveyed 2,392 people about their perceptions of health risks associated with isolation and loneliness. The data showed that, despite the pandemic and other campaigns, people still underestimate the importance of social connection for physical health. And the underestimation exists equally among the lonely and the socially connected.

In a closely connected study, Holt-Lunstad and Proctor, along with coauthors from top research medical centres, surveyed 681 healthcare providers (primarily doctors) about perceptions of health risks associated with poor social connection. Similar to the general population from the first study, healthcare providers underestimated social connection as a medically relevant health factor. The researchers gleaned some unexpected insights due to an unintentional time lag in data collection in the second study.

These findings point to a significant missed opportunity for preventive care and public health. As research continues to affirm the role of social connection in reducing chronic illness, mental health disorders, and mortality risk, the authors argue that healthcare systems must evolve to include social health in training, assessment, and treatment protocols.

Reference: Julianne Holt‐Lunstad, Andrew Scot Proctor, Carla Perissinotto, Angelin Cheng, Thomas K. M. Cudjoe, Ashwin A. Kotwal, Tad Morley. Healthcare providers’ perceived importance and barriers to addressing social connection in medical settings. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2025; 1545 (1): 132 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15295

Researchers Identify Blood Markers for Teen Depression

McGill University researchers have identified nine blood-based molecules that not only distinguish teens with depression from those without but may also predict the course of their symptoms. The findings, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, open the door to earlier, more objective detection of depression in young people—potentially before symptoms worsen and become more resistant to treatment.

Using a novel lab method, they team analyzed dried blood samples from 62 teenagers—34 diagnosed with depression and 28 without. The identified molecules, known as microRNAs, were significantly elevated in teens with depression and, importantly, have not been previously linked to adult depression. This suggests they may reflect biological processes unique to adolescent mental health.

The research highlights the promise of a minimally invasive and scalable diagnostic tool. Samples were collected with a simple finger prick, dried, and frozen—an approach that preserves molecular integrity while simplifying storage and transport.

Since current diagnostic methods rely heavily on self-reported symptoms, which may be delayed by stigma or lack of awareness, a blood-based screening tool could serve as an important objective metric.

“Our findings pave the way for using dried blood spots as a practical tool in psychiatric research,” said first author Alice Morgunova, a postdoctoral fellow at McGill. “This allows us to track early biological changes linked to mental health using a minimally invasive method.”

Reference: Alice Morgunova, Nicholas O’Toole, Fatme Abboud, Saché Coury, Gary Gang Chen, Maxime Teixeira, Eamon Fitzgerald, Gustavo Turecki, Anthony J. Gifuni, Ian H. Gotlib, Corina Nagy, Michael J. Meaney, Tiffany C. Ho, Cecilia Flores. Peripheral microRNA signatures in adolescent depression. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 2025; 100505 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2025.100505

PREVENT Calculator Accurately Predicts Heart Attack Risk: Researchers

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association confirms that the American Heart Association’s PREVENT™ risk calculator can accurately identify individuals with plaque buildup in the arteries, as well as predict their risk of a future heart attack. The study further found that combining the PREVENT score with coronary artery calcium scores improves prediction, aligning closely with real-world outcomes in patients who experienced heart attacks during the study period.

PREVENT (Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events), introduced in 2023, estimates 10- and 30-year risk for heart attack, stroke, or heart failure in adults as young as 30. It incorporates multiple health indicators, including age, blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, type 2 diabetes status, kidney function, smoking, and social determinants of health. In this study, researchers analyzed the electronic health records of 6,961 adults at NYU Langone Health in New York City who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) between 2010 and 2024.

The analysis showed that PREVENT scores correlated closely with coronary artery calcium scores, a measure derived from CT scans to evaluate calcium buildup in the arteries.

The study also demonstrated that using both the PREVENT and coronary artery calcium scores together offered a more accurate assessment of future heart attack risk than either tool alone.

However, researchers note limitations, including the single-institution setting, short follow-up time of 1.2 years, and a largely white participant group. Despite these, the findings support broader clinical use of the PREVENT calculator, particularly when used in combination with coronary artery calcium scoring, to guide treatment decisions and improve heart disease prevention strategies.

"These findings are important because when we can better predict a patient's risk of heart attack, we can also tailor care and determine who may benefit from treatment to prevent a heart attack, such as cholesterol-lowering medications," said corresponding author Morgan Grams, M.D., Ph.D., the Susan and Morris Mark Professor of Medicine and Population Health at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine in New York City.

Reference: aron J. Rhee, Krutika Pandit, Jeffrey S. Berger, Eduardo Iturrate, Josef Coresh, Sadiya S. Khan, Jung‐Im Shin, Judith S. Hochman, Harmony R. Reynolds, Morgan E. Grams. Real‐World Evidence Linking the Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events Risk Score and Coronary Artery Calcium. Journal of the American Heart Association, 2025; DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.124.038991