According to the study, causation actually goes both ways.<p><i>&gt; What Canli finds really interesting about Cole&#x27;s results is that people who felt lonely one year had increased gene activity around inflammation and norepinephrine later on. And people who had increased inflammation felt lonelier the next year. &quot;It&#x27;s a two-way street,&quot; he said. &quot;Loneliness predicted biological changes, and biological changes predicted changes in loneliness.&quot;</i>