The fewer friends you have, the better your health, new study suggests
Recent research from the University of Exeter suggests that in old age it is beneficial to reduce the number of interactions rather than having a large social network. This discovery challenges our understanding of aging and health, opening up a debate about the importance of maintaining meaningful but limited social relationships.
Balance between health and socialization in older people
The idea of maintaining large and active social networks is a symbol of success and well-being for many people. However, scientists from the University of Exeter have found that reducing your social life in old age can help maintain physical health. This concept, called “social aging,” suggests that decreased social interaction may be an adaptive mechanism to avoid infections later in life.
What do they tell us rhesus monkeys?
Researchers studied rhesus monkeysnoting that people with less social interaction in older age were less exposed to infectious agents. These behaviors, which they called “anti-aging,” may also be present in people in whom older adults tend to shrink their social circles, a phenomenon that may be linked to health maintenance.
Isolation as an evolutionary defense mechanism
Contrary to what one might think, social isolation in old age is not the result of physical or emotional limitations. Instead, the researchers argue that it may be an evolutionary response. According to Erin Siracusa, one of the study’s authors, this finding suggests that animals, including humans, reduce their social interactions to avoid the risk of infections as they age. The studies used social network models to analyze the number and intensity of macaque relationships, allowing us to observe how reducing contact reduces the risk of disease transmission in people with weakened immune systems.
Evolutionary benefits of limited social life
The results showed that older macaques with fewer social contacts were less likely to become infected. Reducing contact with others reduces the likelihood of infectious disease transmission, demonstrating that this “social selectivity” may be an adaptive resource to protect health in older age. Siracusa explained that this balance between the benefits and costs of socialization can lead to changes in social behavior in old age.
What risks does socialization in old age entail?
Previous studies have already warned about the risks of intense social life on physical health, highlighting that constant contact with other people can increase disease transmission. This risk increases as the immune system weakens with age. So experts suggest that “social selectivity” may be a way to balance the risks and benefits of interaction in older adults.
The role of relationship duration and intensity
Another important aspect of the study is the duration of the interaction. The more time a person spends with another person, the greater the risk of transmitting pathogens. Thus, although maintaining close friendships is essential for emotional well-being, reducing the number and duration of these relationships may promote physical health in older age. However, complete isolation also has its disadvantages, as has been noted in other studies. The World Health Organization considers loneliness a major public health threat, ranking it alongside risks such as excessive smoking.
Isolation or meaningful relationships?
Although isolation can reduce the risk of infection, it also has negative consequences. Lonely people may experience mental and cognitive health problems. That’s why experts suggest healthy aging requires a balance between reducing contact and maintaining meaningful relationships.
Fewer friends, more health?
Although the decline in social connections may seem controversial, this study offers an innovative perspective on aging. In practice, this may lead to a strategy that prioritizes long-term friendships over a wide social network. Limiting interactions can be a natural way to improve your quality of life by maintaining the benefits of important relationships without exposing yourself to unnecessary risks.
This study offers new insight into how our social relationships can affect health. As progress is made in understanding how “social aging” affects physical well-being, the idea of ”fewer friends, more health” may become established as an evolutionary approach to living a long, healthy life.