India, June 17 -- Loneliness is often considered as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day - a slow, silent killer fueled by isolation and lack of daily connection. But a recent study led by Dr. Bonaventure Egbujie from the University of Waterloo suggests that the narrative might be more complex than we think. Also read | Loneliness is not 'just a first world problem': Why and how widespread is loneliness

The study, conducted on older adults in Canada, Finland, and New Zealand, focused on individuals receiving home care. Surprisingly, it found that lonely individuals were 18-23% less likely to die within a year compared to their peers who had regular companionship. Among the most vulnerable elderly with access to home-care services, lo...