Post-pandemic study focuses on brain effects from social isolation

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on July 14, 2022.

U of L photo Research group leaders Jamshid Faraji and Gerlinde Metz.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

A new study done at the University of Lethbridge is looking into how important social interaction is and how it affects the brain when such opportunities are limited.
Gerlinde Metz and Jamshid Faraji from the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience led a group of researchers in examining the effect that physical and social enrichment had on the expression of oxytocin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rodent models.
The study seeks to understand the mechanism behind how oxytocin works and Metz explained in a press release that this is particularly important now, because they realized the critical role of social support and loneliness in mental health during the pandemic amid the heightened levels of stress and anxiety specifically among pregnant mothers.
“The stress we experience now has potentially transgenerational consequences and may be passed down to offspring three or four generations down the road. We want to understand what we can do to mitigate the effects of that stress and to do so, we need to understand how stress affects the brain,” said Metz.
She said they also discovered that social support helps with longevity and can actually slow down biological aging.
“We focused on oxytocin levels in the brain because it is the bonding hormone that down-regulates stress,” said Metz in a press release.
She explained that BDNF actually leads to better learning, better mental health and brain development.
“It acts on brain function throughout our lifespan and even enhances the survival of neurons and regeneration of neurons in the brain,” said Metz.
In their study, Faraji injected an antagonist that blocked the effects of oxytocin and they discovered that lack of social interaction leads to less oxytocin, which leads to lower BDNF expression.
“We have to be careful when we look at animal research and compare it to humans, but I think we can learn some good lessons from these studies,” said Metz.
They also discovered over the course of their work that while physical and social enrichment benefits both males and females and having both is best, physical interaction was most important to males and social interaction resonated much more with females.
Metz said right now, our population faces a severe mental health crisis and is aging rapidly.
“Pregnant mothers and elderly are especially vulnerable, and they feel the hit of the pandemic and the effects of social distancing. Given the links between social isolation, stress and health, it is more apparent now than ever to offer social support to vulnerable individuals or marginalized populations,” said Metz.
She said even though the pandemic has brought these concerns to the forefront, she has hope, because their work has shown how the brain incredibly heals itself over time given the right stimulus.
“I think it (the study) really helps us to understand these biological mechanisms because they give us something to work with, variables we can measure. We can then see how treatments or interventions are successful and make adjustments where needed to better help people,” said Metz.
The study Regional Differences in BDFN Expression and Behaviour as a Function of Sex and Enrichment Type: Oxytocin Matter is published in Oxford Academic.

Follow @APulidoHerald on Twitter