What does loneliness do to our brains?

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What does loneliness do to our brains?
Thanks for asking.
Not everyone has the same relationship with social contact. Introverts, for example, recharge by spending time alone. Meanwhile, extroverts get their energy from being around other people. But here's the thing. Being introverted or enjoying solitude isn't the same as being lonely. Loneliness can actually become painful and even harmful when it drags on for too long. What happens when loneliness becomes chronic then? It often leads to a drop in motivation and mood. You feel less active and engaged, which can take a toll on both your body and mind, not to mention your social life. And it turns out, loneliness might also affect how our brains work. A study published in BMC Public Health in 2025 followed 172 people aged 25 to 65 over a period of two years. Researchers tested their cognitive abilities through phone-based games.
They found that people who weren't chronically lonely improved over time, while those who were stuck in loneliness didn't make much progress at all. Other studies also show that long-term loneliness increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and even burnout. But that's not all. Loneliness can actually change your brain. Going back to 2020, researchers at McGill University in Canada analysed MRI scans and genetic data from 40,000 people. They compared participants who said they often felt lonely with those who didn't, and the results were striking.
How does that work then? The lonely group showed differences in what's known as the default mode network. That's the set of brain regions that lights up when your mind wanders, when you're remembering, planning, or daydreaming. We talked about the default mode network in a recent episode of Do you really know? Which explained why it's important for us to allow ourselves to get bored from time to time. In lonely people, this network showed stronger connections and even more gray matter. The scientists also noticed changes in the fornix, which is a bundle of nerve fibers linking the hippocampus to that same default network. Surprisingly, in lonely people, the fornix seemed to be better preserved. In other words, loneliness might actually boost imagination. When we lack real social contact, the brain tries to fill the gap. Nathan Spreng was the lead author of the McGill University study, and in its media release, he went on record saying, in the absence of desired social experiences, lonely individuals may be biased towards internally directed thoughts, such as reminiscing or imagining social experiences. It's worth noting that the UK government's 2023-24 Community Life Survey found that 7% of people in England feel lonely, often or always, an increase of 1% from the previous survey in 2021-22. If you're going through a period of loneliness yourself, help exists. Mental health charity Mind has four helplines to meet well-being needs, as well as a list of useful contacts on its website for anyone experiencing loneliness.
There you have it.
Now you know what loneliness does to our brains. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.