Not medicine, but social connection prevents aging

Professor Luigi Ferrucci, a renowned expert in aging research, recently gave a lecture at a local university’s medical school. One of his key statements stood out: the next crucial step in slowing aging will be understanding how lifestyle influences the aging process.

According to Ferrucci, if we can slow down the aging process, we won’t have to suffer from age-related diseases for extended periods; instead, we might only experience them during the final years of life. This would allow people to stay healthier for longer and maintain vitality even as they age.

Coincidentally, around the same time as Ferrucci’s lecture, a new U.S. study was published revealing one of the most surprising factors affecting aging  our social lives. The research showed that staying socially connected helps slow biological aging.

Earlier studies had already found that people who are socially active tend to live longer and healthier lives. However, how these social connections physically impact our bodies wasn’t fully understood until now.

This new study analyzed data from more than 2,000 adults, focusing on the strength and consistency of their social connections  such as family relationships, community or religious involvement, emotional support, and participation in social activities.

Researchers created a metric called Cumulative Social Advantage (CSA), which measures how socially connected and supported a person is. Most earlier studies had only focused on single factors, such as marriage or friendships.

They compared the CSA with various indicators of aging, including DNA-based biological age, inflammation levels, and stress-related hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.

The findings showed that people with stronger social connections had slower biological aging and lower inflammation levels. However, there was no significant link found between short-term stress and social life, possibly due to measurement complexity.

Overall, the study revealed a strong relationship between social connection and the pace of aging  which isn’t entirely surprising. Humans evolved as social beings over thousands of years. In ancient times, living within a group wasn’t just about companionship; it was essential for survival. Working together made finding food easier, provided protection, and ensured mental well-being. Our bodies, therefore, are built to function better within social bonds.

The study also found that social advantages often overlap with economic and educational factors. Individuals with higher education, better income, or certain ethnic backgrounds tended to age more slowly and showed lower inflammation levels. This suggests that both social and socioeconomic factors influence aging.

Two key takeaways emerge from this research. First, at a societal level, policies should aim to reduce poverty and improve education and opportunities. Second, at a personal level, we can all promote healthy aging by maintaining strong, supportive, and active social lives.

Back in 2014, during the 40th anniversary of the U.S. National Institute on Aging in Washington, D.C., Ferrucci was asked what the most important field of research in the next century would be. His immediate answer: social science and genetics. At that time, there were no major programs combining the two, but this new research proves that together, they not only help us understand the nature of aging  they may also reveal how to age better and slower.