Being sociable lengthens life

NEW YORK (HealthDay News)—Older people who remain socially engaged are much more likely to live longer lives, according to a new study.

Social participation among older adults is associated with a lower risk of death, compared with lonely older adults, according to the findings published in the May 21 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

This social engagement includes interacting with others, participating in sports or hobby groups, or doing charitable work, the researchers noted.

“Being socially active is more than a lifestyle choice. It’s strongly linked to healthier aging and longevity,” lead researcher Dr. Ashraf Abugroun, an assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco, said in a press release.

In the study, researchers followed nearly 2,300 Americans aged 60 and older who were participating in an ongoing study on health and retirement. All participants were from the 2016 wave of the study. Participants completed questionnaires to track their lifestyles, including their social activities.

The researchers divided the elderly into three groups based on whether they had high, moderate, or low social engagement, and then analyzed whether their sociability had any relationship with their health or longevity.

The results showed that high and moderate social participation reduced the risk of death by 42% and 47%, compared to low sociability.

Specific types of social participation predicted a lower risk of death, including:

51% less risk for volunteer or charity work.

28% lower risk when participating in social or sports clubs.

An 18% lower risk if older adults played with their grandchildren.

Staying social appears to slow a person's biological aging, the researchers noted. It also encourages more physical activity among older adults, giving them a health boost.

“These results underscore how participating in community life contributes to better health in older adults,” Abugroun said.