Health
Friends, family may protect against heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes, study suggests

New research is emphasizing that socializing with friends and family may help protect people against heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes and other conditions and illnesses.
The study suggests that social interactions may keep people healthy because these interactions boost the immune system and reduce the risk of disease.
Cambridge University researchers, along with colleagues in China, came to these conclusions after studying protein in blood samples taken from over 42,000 adults recruited to the U.K. Biobank, news agency SWNS reported.
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The study team said social relationships play a key role in well-being.
Professor Barbara Sahakian of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge said, “These findings drive home the importance of social contact in keeping us well. More and more people of all ages are reporting feeling lonely,” as SWNS noted.
Socializing with friends and family may help protect people against heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes and other conditions and illnesses, a new study suggests. (iStock courtesy of user skynesher)
“That’s why the World Health Organization has described social isolation and loneliness as a global public health concern … We need to find ways to tackle this growing problem and keep people connected to help them stay healthy.”
Evidence increasingly shows that both social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health and an early death, the same source reported. But the underlying mechanisms through which social relationships impact health apparently have remained elusive until now, the news agency also said.
“We need to find ways to keep people connected to help them stay healthy.”
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy previously warned against the health risks of loneliness, as Fox News Digital reported earlier.
“Loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience,” he said when issuing an advisory nearly two years ago on the topic, per The Associated Press. “It’s like hunger or thirst. It’s a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing.”
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“Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows, and that’s not right,” he also said at the time. “That’s why I issued this advisory to pull back the curtain on a struggle that too many people are experiencing.”
The researchers connected to the new study said that one way to explore biological mechanisms is to look at proteins circulating in the blood, SWNS noted. Proteins, which are molecules produced by genes, are essential for helping the human body function properly.
They can also serve as useful drug targets, allowing scientists to develop new treatments to tackle diseases.

“Social relationships play an important part in keeping us healthy,” said one of the scientists connected to a new study. (iStock)
The Cambridge team and scientists at Fudan University, China, examined the “proteomes,” or the suite of proteins, in blood samples donated by more than 42,000 British adults aged 40 to 69.
That allowed them to see which proteins were present at higher levels among people who were socially isolated or lonely — and how these proteins were connected to poorer health, SWNS said.
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The team calculated social isolation and loneliness scores for individuals in the study, which was published in Nature Human Behaviour, a monthly peer-reviewed journal.
Social isolation is an objective measure based on, for example, whether people live alone, how frequently they have contact with others and whether they take part in social activities, the team said.
“We know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, but we’ve never understood why.”
Loneliness, by contrast, is a subjective measure based on whether an individual feels lonely.
When the researchers analyzed the proteomes and adjusted for factors including age, sex and socio-economic background, they found 175 proteins associated with social isolation and 26 proteins associated with loneliness.
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Many of the proteins are produced in response to inflammation, viral infection and as part of immune responses, the team said — and they also showed links to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and early death.

The findings, said a researcher, “drive home the importance of social contact in keeping us well.” (iStock)
The researchers then used a statistical technique to explore the causal relationship between social isolation and loneliness, on the one hand, and proteins on the other.
With that approach, they identified five proteins that were found in abundance during periods of loneliness.
“We know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, but we’ve never understood why,” said Dr. Chun Shen of the department of clinical neurosciences at the University of Cambridge and the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University.
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“Our work has highlighted a number of proteins that appear to play a key role in this relationship, with levels of some proteins in particular increasing as a direct consequence of loneliness,” he said, as SWNS reported.
Professor Jianfeng Feng of the University of Warwick said, “There are more than 100,000 proteins and many of their variants in the human body … AI and high-throughput proteomics can help us pinpoint some key proteins in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for many human diseases and revolutionize the traditional view of human health.”

“AI and high-throughput proteomics can help us pinpoint some key proteins in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in many human diseases.” (iStock)
He also said, “The proteins we’ve identified give us clues to the biology underpinning poor health among people who are socially isolated or lonely, highlighting why social relationships play such an important part in keeping us healthy.”
One of the proteins produced at higher levels as a result of loneliness was ADM.
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Previous studies have shown that ADM plays a role in responding to stress and in regulating stress hormones and social hormones, such as oxytocin — known as the “love hormone” — which can reduce stress and improve mood.
The team found a “strong” association between ADM and the volume of the insula, a brain hub for interoception, the ability to sense what’s happening inside the body.
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The greater the ADM levels, the smaller the volume of the region.
Higher ADM levels were also linked to lower volume of the left caudate — a region involved in emotional, reward and social processes. Higher levels of ADM were also linked to an increased risk of dying young.
The researchers said another of the proteins, ASGR1, is associated with higher cholesterol and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease — while other identified proteins play roles in the development of insulin resistance, “furring” of the arteries and cancer progression.
Melissa Rudy of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

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Health
This daily beauty routine could be ruining your hair, experts warn

Clean beauty brand owner calls for higher safety standards
In an on-camera interview with Fox News Digital, TV personality and clean beauty brand owner Emily Austin expressed her excitement about the push for change with the MAHA movement, calling for U.S.-made products to meet EU standards.
For those with a hair care routine, a brush is an essential tool for daily upkeep — but brushing hair while it’s wet could cause more harm than good.
The common habit could permanently weaken hair at a “molecular level,” according to Dr. Mehmet Erdogan, co-founder and hair transplant surgeon at Smile Hair Clinic in Istanbul.
This could lead to increased breakage and thinning over time. A 2022 study from the University of Manchester reflected this, finding that moisture can change hair’s response to stress.
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“When hair gets wet, it undergoes significant physical changes that can affect its ability to handle stress from brushing,” Erdogan said in comments shared with Fox News Digital.
“The water causes the hair shaft to swell, stretches the cuticle and makes it more susceptible to breakage.”
“Applying the right hair care when wet is the best way to maintain healthy hair long-term and to prevent unnecessary thinning caused by breakage,” an expert shared. (iStock)
Although research has shown that wet hair stretches more than dry hair before breaking, Erdogan clarified that this doesn’t mean the hair is more flexible and resilient.
“The opposite is true – this stretching damages the internal protein structure, leading to weaker hair over time,” he warned.
“Wet hair is more fragile, and rough brushing can cause breakage.”
“The brush pulls on swollen, weakened strands, causing them to stretch beyond their capacity. As they dry, they don’t return to their original state and remain damaged at a structural level.”
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Ashley DiMatteo, owner of Ashley Lauren Beauty Lounge in Westchester, New York, told Fox News Digital in an interview that the salon has “definitely seen” damage from brushing wet hair.
“Wet hair is more fragile, and rough brushing can cause breakage,” she said. “But it’s rarely just one issue – hair loss or damage often comes from a combination of factors like stress, hormones, heat styling or chemical treatments.”

Ashley DiMatteo (left), owner of Ashley Lauren Beauty Lounge in New York, and Briana Delvecchio (right), a hairdresser and color stylist of 14 years. (Jesse Rinka Photography)
Brianna Delvecchio, a color specialist and hairdresser at DiMatteo’s salon, agreed that brushing wet hair can cause breakage, especially while doing so roughly or with the wrong tool.
Factors like stress, diet, hormones and overprocessing can also play a role in hair damage, she confirmed.
Those who have fine and chemically treated hair – whether colored, permed or relaxed – are “especially susceptible” to wet brushing damage, since their protein structure is “already altered,” Erdogan noted.
Tips to minimize hair damage
The risks don’t mean people should skip brushing altogether, Delvecchio said, as not brushing wet hair can sometimes result in a “knotted, matted mess.”
“Brushing is necessary — just do it gently and in the right way,” she advised.

People who have chemically treated hair are more susceptible to damage, according to experts. (iStock)
With her salon clients, DiMatteo recommends taking a “gentle approach” to hair, protecting it from heat, avoiding rough brushing and limiting chemical services.
“We also take time to talk about scalp health, nutrition and lifestyle, because those all play a role,” she told Fox News Digital. “And most importantly, don’t ever feel embarrassed or shy to speak to your stylist or local salon. We’re here to help.”
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To lower the risk of hair damage, experts recommend using a wide-tooth comb or flexible detangling brush.

Experts recommend brushing hair from the bottom and working up to avoid damage. (iStock)
“The flexible bristles are great for detangling without too much tension,” Delvecchio said. “It’s a solid option for all hair types, as long as you’re still gentle and patient.”
The salon owner also suggested using a leave-in product to help soften and hydrate the hair, making it “much easier for the comb to glide through.”
“Technique matters, too – always start from the bottom and gently work your way up,” DiMatteo advised.
Adding heat to wet hair can “multiply the damage,” Erdogan warned.
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For those with straight hair, it’s best to allow it to partially air-dry before combing, according to the hair transplant surgeon.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association also recommends this approach.

Using a flexible detangling brush or wide-tooth comb is best for the hair, experts advise. (iStock)
Delvecchio advised going “easy on your hair” overall, especially when it’s wet.
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“Use heat protectant, lower the heat on your tools, avoid overlapping bleach and keep up with trims,” she suggested.
“Also, brush regularly (wet or dry) to prevent tangles and breakage,” she went on. “Hair is delicate, but with the right habits, it can stay strong and healthy.”
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