When 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie went missing earlier this year, it was a friend who had been expecting her company that first sounded the alarm. As law enforcement officials worked to reconstruct the timeline of her disappearance, they found that her daughter, "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, and her son-in-law had spent hours with her the night before she vanished and had driven her home.
In the six months since her mysterious abduction, a portrait has emerged of a woman who was exceptionally well-connected and social, even in her later years. Those who knew her—including her children, former co-workers, fellow mahjong players, book club members, and a pastor—have described her as sharp, witty, and deeply cherished.
This image of a vibrant, engaged life stands in stark contrast to the epidemic of loneliness that public health experts have been warning about for years. Frank Infurna, a psychology professor at Arizona State University, noted that Guthrie served as a model for how to remain engaged and connected during retirement. Emily Nabors, a gerontologist and associate director of innovation at the National Council on Aging, agreed, stating that Guthrie was clearly on the highly social end of the spectrum, maintaining a wide array of activities.
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General released an 82-page report titled “Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation,” which detailed why social connection is essential and how the nation should prioritize it. Experts have long linked social disconnection to serious health issues, including depression, cognitive decline, and dementia.
Jillian Racoosin, executive director of the Foundation for Social Connection and a contributor to that report, argued that Guthrie’s abduction underscores the importance of making social connection a collective priority rather than just an individual one.
She explained that when communities embed social connection into the places where people live, work, learn, and gather, they strengthen collective resilience and improve their ability to respond during emergencies. While tragedies may still occur, connected communities provide stronger foundations for supporting one another during difficult moments.
Guthrie’s social life was highly active, involving frequent get-togethers and meaningful discussions. Just two days before she was taken, she was playing Mahjong with friends. She was known for her competitiveness in the strategy game, which uses more than 100 tiles, but also for her willingness to teach younger women how to play. She was also a regular at monthly book club meetings and deeply involved in Bible study, where friends noted her acute ability to connect gospel lessons to everyday life.
Nabors suggested that these activities serve as a vital safeguard, acting as a "buddy system" with neighbors. If a person has a system where they open their curtains every morning and fail to do so, a neighbor might notice and check on them, much like how Guthrie’s absence from church helped raise the alarm that something was wrong.
Despite the benefits of these social structures, Racoosin noted that many drivers of disconnection in the United States stem from the dissolution of community groups. People are less likely to attend religious services or participate in clubs and groups than in the past. The 2023 U.S. Surgeon General’s report revealed that the average person spent 24 more hours alone each month in 2020 compared to 2003.
Household family social engagement declined by five hours per month, while time spent on social engagements with friends dropped by 20 hours per month. Involvement in faith organizations also fell from 70% in 1999 to 47% in 2020. These groups, however, remain a critical source for regular social contact, community support, and a sense of belonging.
Similar trends were highlighted in a 2025 American Time Use Survey, which found that people are spending less time socializing and more time on video games or social media. These trends appear to affect younger people acutely, with a 2025 Pew Research Center report finding that adults under 50 are more likely to feel lonely than older adults. Furthermore, Infurna noted that loneliness may be a uniquely American problem, as middle-aged Americans report higher levels of loneliness compared to their counterparts in England, Germany, France, Sweden, and most other European nations.
The health consequences of this isolation are severe. Dr. Julianne Holt-Lundstad, director of the Social Connection & Health Lab at Brigham Young University, told federal lawmakers in 2017 that isolation and loneliness can harm health as much as or more than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Lacking connection can affect an individual's willingness to follow health regimens, which in turn impacts blood pressure and immune functioning, potentially increasing the risk of chronic illnesses.
These challenges often arise after critical life transitions, such as retirement, divorce, the death of a spouse, or children leaving home.
Societal conditions also contribute to these issues. In Pima County, Arizona, where roughly a quarter of the population is 65 or older, the local Council on Aging works to provide programs to alleviate loneliness. Because many retirees move to southern Arizona and leave behind their family support systems, the council facilitates programs like Meals on Wheels, which provides both food and social interaction.
Dr. W. Mark Clark, the former CEO of the Pima Council on Aging, told federal lawmakers that many modern communities have become places where the garage door is the front door, and people come and go without ever seeing their neighbors.
Across the U.S., there are more than 600 area agencies on aging, such as the Maricopa County agency, which offers 40 to 50 programs, including Tai Chi classes, to help older adults expand their social interaction. Families interested in these resources can contact their local agency on aging, or the Phoenix branch’s 24-hour helpline at 602-264-HELP (4357).
Ultimately, Racoosin emphasized that strong social connection requires relationships that are “meaningful, supportive and high quality.” When quality is the primary challenge, the solution is not necessarily to build more relationships, but to address what is preventing existing connections from being fulfilling. Infurna added that the most important step an individual can take is to reach out and diligently pursue connection, whether by joining a club or making friends with the parents of their children's friends.
While the approach will look different for everyone, he noted that people must seek out relationships to "fill their cup." As more individuals pursue these connections, experts believe the benefits will be far-reaching for both individual and societal health. Reflecting on Guthrie’s life, Racoosin concluded that the practices she embedded in her daily routine were setting her up for a very successful, high-quality way of living.
Yet, “religious or faith-based groups can be a source for regular social contact, serve as a community of support, provide meaning and purpose, create a sense of belonging around shared values and beliefs, and are associated with reduced risk-taking behaviors,” the report says.
