African grey parrots in captivity are often kept in isolation, and a recent study shows that this may be detrimental for their cellular health. The study shows raising these parrots in captivity and isolation can reduce the length of telomeres.

Telomeres naturally shorten with each cell division, reaching a point of replicative senescence when cells cannot be replicated anymore. This eliminates worn out cells but also contributes to mortality and aging. Although studies have linked the accelerated shortening of telomeres with stress, this marks the first indication of its link to social isolation.

The study was done by Denise Aydinonat and colleagues from the Vetmeduni Vienna. DNA samples from African grey parrots bred in isolation and in pairs were collected and compared. On analysis, it was found that isolated parrots had shorter telomeres than those parrots housed in pairs.

Dustin Penn, of Vetmeduni Vienna’s Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, said, “Studies on humans suggest that people who have experienced high levels of social stress and deprivation have shorter telomeres.” He continued, “But this study is the first to examine the effects of social isolation on telomere length in any species.”

The researchers had used mice in their previous experiments, and they had found that stress was linked to telomere shortening. With this new study, they showed that isolation can also affect telomere attrition.