 Chris Vaughn with WBZ, Boston's news radio. Loneliness could increase your chance of having a stroke. A new study at Harvard showing older adults who reported being chronically lonely had a 56% higher stroke risk than those who rated their loneliness low. Researchers say the numbers highlight the importance of assessing loneliness and claim consequences may be worse if they continue to be ignored. Concern growing among health officials as cancer centers are reporting drug shortages.