Social connections may help slow ageing, say scientists

Can friendship and social connections actually slow ageing? Scientists increasingly think so.

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At a recent medical school lecture, Professor Luigi Ferrucci, a leading expert on ageing, remarked, “The next great step in ageing science will be understanding how lifestyle factors slow down ageing.” His words echo a growing scientific goal — to extend the years of good health and delay the onset of age-related illnesses.

While Ferrucci spoke, a new American study was published showing that one of the strongest influences on ageing might be our social lives. Staying socially connected, researchers found, could slow biological ageing itself.

It’s long been known that people with strong social ties tend to live longer and enjoy better physical and mental health. What’s been less clear is how social connections affect our bodies at a cellular level.