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he Science: Why Your Body Needs "The Village" Humans are inherently social creatures. Our biology is wired for connection. When we feel isolated or lonely, our bodies perceive it as a threat, triggering a physiological stress response. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIH), chronic loneliness acts similarly to chronic stress in the body. It can raise levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), increase systemic inflammation, and even dampen immune cell functio