Loneliness is increasing among adults 45 and older, with new research from AARP revealing a concerning upward trend that's reshaping how we understand social isolation across age groups.

The study found 40% of adults in this age range now report feeling lonely, marking a significant increase from 35% in previous surveys. This rise represents a notable shift in the landscape of social connection for older Americans.

Perhaps most surprising is the gender reversal in loneliness patterns. Men now report higher levels of loneliness than women, completely flipping earlier research trends that consistently showed women experiencing more social isolation.

Adults in their 40s and 50s emerged as the loneliest age group, challenging assumptions that loneliness primarily affects the elderly. Expert

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