How Social Connections Lead to Healthier Aging
Most people think that maintaining health means eating a lot of fruits and vegetables or going to the gym. However, the article “Cumulative Social Advantage is Associated with Slower Epigenetic Aging and Lower Systemic Inflammation" found that how social we are with other people also plays a big role in our health. Researchers explain that being social can actually slow down how much we age and also reduce inflammation in the body.
The study used data from over two thousand adults in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) project. They gave adults cumulative social advantage (CSA) scores which measure different aspects of social life such as friends, family, community relations, and other forms of support. A higher CSA score means an individual is more socially connected to other people and vice versa.
They found that people with higher CSA scores showed slower epigenetic aging. Epigenetic aging refers to patterns in your DNA that change over time. It reveals how old someone is biologically, based on how much damage and stress has been done to their body. Your regular age only tells you how many years you have been alive, while epigenetic aging tells you how healthy your body is biologically. Thus, people in this study with stronger and social relationships were biologically healthier.
The study used data from over two thousand adults in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) project. They gave adults cumulative social advantage (CSA) scores which measure different aspects of social life such as friends, family, community relations, and other forms of support. A higher CSA score means an individual is more socially connected to other people and vice versa.
They found that people with higher CSA scores showed slower epigenetic aging. Epigenetic aging refers to patterns in your DNA that change over time. It reveals how old someone is biologically, based on how much damage and stress has been done to their body. Your regular age only tells you how many years you have been alive, while epigenetic aging tells you how healthy your body is biologically. Thus, people in this study with stronger and social relationships were biologically healthier.
Positive social interactions, like Spending time with friends, are related to slower biological aging.
Image Source: Raphael Victor
Moreover, the study found that people with higher CSA scores also had lower inflammation throughout their bodies. Inflammation puts frequent stress on your body which can wear it down over time. Higher inflammation is commonly associated with chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular issues. These findings suggest that the stronger you connect with others might help with low inflammation and aging.
Still, not every biological system showed effects from higher social connections. Hormones related to stress–such as cortisol, epinephrine, and dopamine–did not differ based on CSA score. Now, this doesn’t directly mean that social interactions do not affect health, but rather points at a limitation in the study's method of measurement. Researchers explained that these hormone levels change throughout the day, and because they used a single urine sample, the study may not have captured the full range of hormonal shifts.
All in all, the study reveals that our health is not just about how physically active you are, but also about the people who we surround ourselves with. Especially for college students or young adults, many tend to focus on having a diet, working out, or maintaining a steady sleep schedule. While those do help to improve health, it is important to remember that feeling supported can help too. So whether you are in clubs, sports, or other social activities, do not be afraid to make connections. These relationships might actually be helping you stay healthy more than you realize!
Still, not every biological system showed effects from higher social connections. Hormones related to stress–such as cortisol, epinephrine, and dopamine–did not differ based on CSA score. Now, this doesn’t directly mean that social interactions do not affect health, but rather points at a limitation in the study's method of measurement. Researchers explained that these hormone levels change throughout the day, and because they used a single urine sample, the study may not have captured the full range of hormonal shifts.
All in all, the study reveals that our health is not just about how physically active you are, but also about the people who we surround ourselves with. Especially for college students or young adults, many tend to focus on having a diet, working out, or maintaining a steady sleep schedule. While those do help to improve health, it is important to remember that feeling supported can help too. So whether you are in clubs, sports, or other social activities, do not be afraid to make connections. These relationships might actually be helping you stay healthy more than you realize!
Featured Image Source: Kate Kozyrka
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