Salk Institute

Salk’s Year of Brain Health: Kay Tye on Social Connection and FOMO

The podcast marks Salk Institute’s 2026 “Year of Brain Health,” featuring neuroscientist Kay Tye discussing how social health—defined as the quality and quantity of our connections—underpins cognitive resilience throughout life. Tye explains that the brain maintains “social homeostasis,” a set‑point balancing incoming social input with internal expectations. Chronic deficits trigger neural circuits that register social pain, which she notes is processed similarly to physical pain. Data from flies to humans show that prolonged isolation shortens lifespan and raises risk of mood disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. She cites concrete examples: mice emit vocalizations when socially deprived, and pandemic‑era quarantine shifted many people’s social set‑points, making post‑lockdown gatherings feel overwhelming. Tye emphasizes that perceived loneliness—not merely lack of contact—drives these health effects, highlighting the role of caregivers in providing responsive, reciprocal interaction. For businesses, these insights suggest a market for interventions that monitor and boost social engagement, from digital platforms that reduce FOMO to community‑based senior programs. Prioritizing social health could delay cognitive decline, lower healthcare costs, and create new revenue streams in wellness and elder‑care sectors.