Strong social bonds can literally slow down aging at the cellular level

Solid and supported social ties through life can slow biological aging, reduce inflammation and maintain “epigenetic clock” of the younger body.

A life of support relationships and community ties can help slow the body’s aging process. From the warmth of parents in childhood to friendships, religious involvement and commitment to community life in adulthood, these social benefits seem to influence biological aging. Researchers suggest that such advantages can “reset” what is called epigenetic clocks, which makes the biological age of a person younger than the number of years they have really experienced.

The results were published in the journal Brain, behavior and immunity – health And are based on data of more than 2,100 adults who participated in the long-term study of the quarantine in the United States (midus).

Anthony NGO, professor of psychology at Cornell University, and his colleagues discovered that individuals with a greater “cumulative social advantage” have experienced slower levels of epigenetic aging and have shown a reduction in levels of chronic inflammation.

At the heart of research were epigenetic clocks, the molecular markers who consider the speed with which the body ages. Two clocks in particular, Écimage and Dunedinpace, are considered among the best predictors of the risk of illness and the lifespan. Participants who maintained larger and more coherent social networks showed biological profiles, especially younger on the two measures.

The role of permanent relations

“The cumulative social advantage really concerns the depth and extent of your social connections during a lifetime,” NGO said. “We have examined four key areas: the heat and support you have received from your parents growing up, how you feel connected to your community and your neighborhood, your involvement in religious or denominational communities and the continuous emotional support of your friends and family.”

Researchers have hypothesized that the sustained social advantage is reflected in basic regulatory systems linked to aging, including epigenetic, inflammatory and neuroendocrines. Remarkably, they found that a higher social advantage was linked to lower interleukin-6 levels, a pro-inflammatory molecule involved in heart disease, diabetes and neurodegenerescence. Interestingly, however, there were no significant associations with short -term stress markers such as cortisol or catecholamines.

Unlike many previous studies that have examined social factors in isolation – whether it is a married person, for example, or the number of friends they have – this work has conceptualized “the cumulative social advantage” as a multidimensional construction. And by combining early relational resources and life later, the measure reflects ways in which clusters and advantageous compounds.

“What is striking is the cumulative effect – these social resources are based on each other over time,” NGO said. “It’s not just about having friends today; This is how your social connections have developed and in -depth throughout your life. This accumulation shapes your health trajectory in a measurable way. ”

Long -term impact on health

This does not mean that a single friendship or a voluntary passage can go up the biological clock. The authors suggest that the depth and consistency of social connection, built through decades and different spheres of life, counts deeply. The study adds weight to the growing vision that social life is not only a question of happiness or relief of stress, but a basic determinant of physiological health.

“Think of social ties as a retirement account,” NGO said. “The earlier you start to invest earlier and the more you are, the higher your yields. Our study shows that these yields are not only emotional; They are biological. People with richer and more sustained social connections literally age more slowly at the cellular level. Aging means both both healthy and staying connected – they are inseparable. ”

Reference: “The cumulative social advantage is associated with slower epigenetic aging and lower systemic inflammation” by Anthony D. NGO, Frank D. Mann and Laura D. Kubzansky, September 3, 2025, Brain, behavior and immunity – health.
DOI: 10.1016 / J.BBIH.2025.101096

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