It's a growing issue for millions of Americans. Here's who is most impacted—and what to do about it.
As data from national health experts points out, loneliness currently affects about one out of every three American adults, which can in turn put someone at risk for experiencing either mental or physical health symptoms. And with the release of a December 2025 AARP study, there’s new evidence suggesting that the sharpest effects are often felt earlier in life than one might think.
For the study, more than 4,500 adults were asked to complete a detailed online survey—available in both English and Spanish. The same survey questions were asked in studies completed in 2010 and 2018. For the 2025 survey, more than 3,300 participants ultimately completed the questionnaire.
The results revealed several important findings, including that four in 10 U.S. adults ages 45 and older now say they feel lonely, up from about one-third just a decade ago. Those at the younger end of this group are the most affected—adults in their late 40s and 50s reported the highest levels of loneliness, making midlife the loneliest stretch of adulthood—not retirement.
Says the AARP: “This finding underscores that midlife can be a particularly vulnerable period, with adults in their 40s and 50s facing unique pressures and transitions—such as work, caregiving responsibilities, or shifting social networks—that may heighten feelings of isolation.”
While loneliness tends to ease with advancing age, higher education, and greater financial stability, men, in particular, are now more likely than women to report feeling lonely. About 42% of men said they experience loneliness as opposed to 37% of women. This marks a notable shift from past trends, the organization notes.
A sense of isolation doesn’t just affect mood—it can take a grave toll on physical health and even longevity, wrote former Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek H. Murthy, MD, in a 2023 advisory naming loneliness a growing health epidemic.
Said Dr. Murthy in the advisory: “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling,” noting that it can increase one’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, or even premature death. “The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity,” he continued.
Technology can help fill some of the gaps in our social lives, but rarely replaces real connection, the AARP warns. Scrolling, streaming, or even chatting online may ease boredom, yet these habits don’t typically build the true emotional bonds that protect health.
The good news is that loneliness is not a fixed state; taking baby steps toward increased connection can help you make major strides in your mental and physical health. Reaching out during life transitions, rebuilding routines that include other people, and staying engaged with your community—however modestly—can help reverse the slide. As the AARP report confirms, having a true sense of belonging is a difference maker.
Additionally, the less time you spend alone, the better. Lonely adults surveyed averaged about 7.3 daily hours alone versus 5.6 hours of alone time for the overall population of adults ages 45 and up.
It’s also worth following Dr. Murthy’s recommendations from the 2023 advisory: “Answer that phone call from a friend. Make time to share a meal. Listen without the distraction of your phone. Perform an act of service. Express yourself authentically. The keys to human connection are simple, but extraordinarily powerful.”
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
- People Who Did This One Thing in Their 20s Were the Happiest at Age 80
- How Not to Feel Lonely: 50 Science-Backed Tips Everyone Should Read
- We Asked 9 Burnout Experts Their Secrets to Protecting Mental Health at Work—and They All Said the Same Thing
- I Study Behavioral Health for a Living: Here Are 8 Little Rules for a Happier Life I Wish Everyone Knew
