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If you want to age gracefully, science says the best investment isn’t supplements or fancy treatments, it is friendships.
Friendships and community ties aren’t just sources of happiness or stress relief—they’re deeply linked to physical health. (Representative image: Getty)
People have always been fascinated with the idea of staying young. From makeup to medicine, countless industries thrive on selling anti-ageing products that promise to make you look younger or slow down the ageing process. Yet, it turns out the real secret to ageing well may not lie in a pill or an expensive treatment—it could be in the company you keep.
A new study suggests that people with strong, lasting friendships and deep social connections don’t just feel better emotionally; they may actually age more slowly at the biological level.
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Published in the journal Brain, Behaviour & Immunity – Health, the research shows that meaningful relationships and active community involvement can “reset” the body’s internal clock, lowering biological age.
“It’s not just about having friends today; it’s about how your social connections have grown and deepened throughout your life. That accumulation shapes your health trajectory in measurable ways,” explained Anthony Ong, a psychology professor at Cornell University.
So why do lasting connections matter so much? Here’s what the research says.
What The Study Found
The research analysed data from more than 2,100 participants in the Midlife in the United States project.
At the heart of the study were “epigenetic clocks”—molecular markers that track how fast a person is ageing. Two of the most reliable clocks, DunedinPACE and GrimAge, are widely used as indicators of disease risk and overall lifespan.
The findings? People with consistent, reliable social ties had significantly younger biological profiles according to both clocks.
“We looked at four key areas,” explained study co-author Anthony Ong. “The warmth and support you received from your parents growing up, how connected you feel to your community and the neighbourhood, your involvement in religious or faith-based communities, and the ongoing emotional support from friends and family.”
The researchers concluded that lifelong social advantages leave an imprint on critical biological systems tied to ageing—epigenetic, inflammatory, and neuroendocrine pathways.
One striking discovery was that stronger social bonds were associated with lower levels of interleukin-6, an inflammatory molecule linked to heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.
Interestingly, the same connection wasn’t observed with short-term stress markers such as cortisol or catecholamines.
Strong Bonds, Not Short Chats, Keep You Young
If you think a single friendship or a brief period of socialising can act as an anti-ageing “treatment,” think again. The study emphasises that it’s the depth and consistency of relationships built over years—and across different areas of life—that truly help slow the ageing process.
Participants with stronger “cumulative social advantage” showed slower biological ageing and lower levels of chronic inflammation. As Dr Ong put it, “Cumulative social advantage is really about the depth and breadth of your social connections over a lifetime.”
The findings strengthen the belief that friendships and community ties aren’t just sources of happiness or stress relief—they’re deeply linked to physical health.
“Think of social connections like a retirement account,” Dr Ong explains. “The earlier you start investing and the more consistently you contribute, the greater your returns. Our study shows those returns aren’t just emotional; they’re biological. People with richer, more sustained social connections literally age more slowly at the cellular level. Ageing well means both staying healthy and staying connected—they’re inseparable.”
About the Author
Surbhi Pathak, subeditor, writes on India, world affairs, science, and education. She is currently dabbling with lifestyle content. Follow her on X: @S_Pathak_11.
Surbhi Pathak, subeditor, writes on India, world affairs, science, and education. She is currently dabbling with lifestyle content. Follow her on X: @S_Pathak_11.
October 06, 2025, 10:59 IST
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