What do you think are the secrets to living a long life? We often overlook the importance of connecting with others. According to Susan Pinker in this TED Talk, the key to longevity could lie in your social life.
Socializing can help you live a longer life. And no, we don’t mean those text messages you send to your friend occasionally. Susan Pinker states that the quality of your face to face relationships with others is a strong predictor of how long you’ll live.
Simply shaking hands or making eye contact with someone can increase your levels of the neurotransmitter oxytocin. This will ultimately increase your level of trust, thus lowering your stress hormones. Stress hormones take a physical toll on the body. The science of human connection can be confusing. However, the bottom line is when examining close relationships, there is evidence to back up these claims.
Take the small village of Villagrande, for example. While it is not a wealthy community, the villagers are constantly interacting in some form due to the layout and culture of the village. There are multiple residents of Villagrande that are living well into their 100’s. Multiple generations live together and care for each other. Villagers are still cooking traditional foods with their children and grandchildren in their 100’s. Susan went to Villagrande to study this unique place.
While this may not be common in the United States, we have found that many of our clients benefit from the socialization offered at Independent and Assisted Livings. Although it may be hard to leave one’s home after so many years, some people become isolated as they age. One of our clients reports that it is like being back at college … eating in a dining hall, going to classes, living among friends (not to mention the growing rates of STDs among the senior population).
Of course, socializing is not the only secret to living longer. We also need to take care of our physical health and mental health. However, socializing can definitely increase your odds of living a long life.
So get out there and join a book club or an exercise class. It’s never too late to start improving your social life!