More evidence that social isolation is not good for people.

A new US study finds that depriving adult mice of social contact reduces production of myelin, the protein sheath that surrounds the fibers or axons that convey electrical signals between nerve cells. The researchers also found socially isolated mice had lower levels of myelin-forming cells in the part of the brain that is important for complex emotion and thinking, and suggest reduced myelin production may play a role in the development of mental illness.

The good news is myelin production appears to be restored once social contact resumes.

Senior investigator Patrizia Casaccia, from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, and colleagues, write about their work in the 11 November online issue of Nature Neuroscience.

Casaccia, a professor of neuroscience, genetics and genomics, and also of neurology at Mount Sinai, says in a statement released on Friday:

"We knew that a lack of social interaction early in life impacted myelination in young animals but were unsure if these changes would persist in adulthood."

"Social isolation of adult mice causes behavioral and structural changes in neurons, but this is the first study to show that it causes myelin dysfunction as well," she adds. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/253347.php

The implications:

The researchers conclude their findings suggest myelin formation "acts as a form of adult plasticity", and that formation of new oligodendrocytes is affected by environmental changes.

"Our study demonstrates that oligodendrocytes generate new myelin as a way to respond to environmental stimuli, and that myelin production is significantly reduced in social isolation," says Casaccia.

The study supports other emerging evidence that abnormal myelin contributes to a range of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, autism, schizophrenia and depression, as Casaccia explains:

"Abnormalities occur in people with psychiatric conditions characterized by social withdrawal. Other disorders characterized by myelin loss, such as MS, often are associated with depression."

"Our research emphasizes the importance of maintaining a socially stimulating environment in these instances," she adds.

Too Much Loneliness and Isolation May Lead to Mental Health Problems http://www.ocdsite.com/to-much-lonel...h-problems/The article tells us, "There are many ways to overcome loneliness and isolation and get connected." Suggestions for doing so follow.

As one who is quite isolated, there are many times I have great difficulty even getting out the door. The alternative, however, only makes a bad situation worse.