Loneliness is an unrecognised cause of stroke

Loneliness could be a major cause of stroke in older people.

Those who were always alone or felt isolated from others are around 56 percent more likely to suffer a stroke, say researchers from T H Chan School of Public Health.

They analysed data on more than 12,000 people over the age of 50 registered with the US Health and Retirement Study and assessed the risk of stroke caused by feelings of loneliness, but not depression.

There was a small increased risk of around 5 percent in those who occasionally felt lonely, but this increased to 56 percent in those who always felt isolated.

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