Building strong connections with others may help you live longer.
A new study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity—Health finds that social connections can actually slow cellular aging.
These connections are known to have positive effects on health overall, but researchers at Cornell University focused on the long-term benefits of biological aging.
The study’s lead author, Anthony Ong, professor of psychology and director of the Human Health Laboratory at the College of Human Ecology in New York City, said he was “astonished” to discover how powerful relationships can be at the molecular level.
The researchers note that while this doesn’t mean a single friendship or community experience will extend a person’s lifespan, the “depth and consistency of social connections” across a lifetime are “critically important.” “Think of social connections as retirement accounts,” Ong advises. “The earlier you start investing and the more consistently you invest, the greater the returns.”
“Our research shows that these rewards are not just emotional but also physiological. People with richer, longer-lasting social connections age more slowly at the cellular level. Aging gracefully means staying healthy and staying connected—the two are inextricably linked.”
“A helpful metaphor is to think of the body as a house that must weather the storms of life,” he says. “Every strong friendship is like an added layer of insulation; every supportive family member strengthens the foundation.”
This article is excerpted from Fox News
