LIVE LONGER BY STAYING CONNECTED

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LIVE LONGER BY STAYING CONNECTED








A new study says seniors who stay socially engaged are much more likely to live longer.

Social engagement among seniors is associated with a lower risk of death when compared to seniors who are loners, according to findings published May 21 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Researchers said such social engagement includes interacting with others, participating in sports or hobby groups, and doing charity work.

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

For the study, researchers tracked nearly 2,300 Americans 60 and older participating in an ongoing health and retirement study. The participants all came from the 2016 survey wave.

Participants completed questionnaires tracking their lifestyles and social activities as part of the project.

Researchers divided the seniors into three groups based on their high, moderate, or low social engagement and analyzed whether their sociability affected their health or longevity.

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

Specific types of social engagement predicted a reduced risk of dying, including:

  • 51% lower risk for volunteer or charity work.

  • 28% lower risk of participating in social or sports clubs.

  • 18% lower risk if seniors played with their grandkids.

Researchers said staying social appears to slow down a person’s biological aging. It also promotes more physical activity among seniors, giving them a health boost.

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

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