10/05/2025
Strong friendships may literally slow aging at the cellular level | ScienceDaily https://share.google/n7rgWFEjfhSyRat9R
Strong and sustained friendships and social connections can literally slow aging at the cellular level, according to recent evidence from large-scale studies on biological aging and social relationships[.
Key Study Findings
- Researchers analyzed data from over 2,100 adults in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, measuring the impact of lifelong social support on epigenetic aging markers—molecular signatures in DNA known as "epigenetic clocks" (notably GrimAge and DunedinPACE).
- Those with a greater "cumulative social advantage"—including early parental warmth, adult friendships, community engagement, and religious or faith-based support—showed slower biological aging and lower levels of chronic inflammation, especially reduced interleukin-6, a key inflammatory molecule tied to various chronic diseases[1][4][5].
- The positive biological effect is not about brief or single friendships but the depth and consistency of social connections maintained across decades and various settings (family, community, faith, friendships).
Mechanism: Epigenetic Clocks and Inflammation
- Epigenetic clocks, like GrimAge and DunedinPACE, estimate how rapidly one’s body is aging at the cellular level and predict disease and mortality risk[.
- Broader and more consistent social networks correlated with younger biological ages on both clocks, and these individuals also had lower chronic inflammation, further supporting healthier physiological aging.
Broader Implications
- Social resources operate like a "retirement account" for health, compounding benefits over time—early and lifelong relational investments accumulate and shape health trajectories in profound ways.
- Staying healthy and staying socially connected are deeply intertwined; a rich relational life is as central to healthy aging as good diet and exercise.
In summary, lifelong, stable, and deep social connections create measurable resilience against biological aging at the cellular level, supporting both emotional well-being and