Rx Friendship: Add More Socialization to Your Healthy Aging Prescription

We humans are "hardwired" to crave and rely on human contact. Unlike, for example, a turtle, which hatches from a buried egg and is on its own from that moment on, people depend on other people for survival. And the need does not decrease with age.

Brain experts explain this "wiring": early human beings lived in small, interdependent groups. To survive and thrive, individuals needed to be finely attuned to their fellow tribesmen, so the part of our brain that controls communication is very large and developed. Just as humans have a built-in desire for food, water and sleep, we also have a deep need to connect with other people.

Deprived of engagement with others, human beings experience a condition that is damaging and distressing: loneliness. Consider that prisoners can be controlled with the threat of solitary confinement. And most people can identify with the scene in the movie Cast Away where Tom Hanks, marooned on a deserted island, creates a "companion" by drawing a face on a volleyball that has drifted ashore.

Over the last few decades, researchers have been fine-tuning a definitive "prescription" for healthy aging, defining the building blocks that combine to help us maintain the highest possible level of function and quality of life in our later years. In previous issues of Choices, you have read about the vital role of physical activity, about "brain care" and making lifestyle choices that support memory health, and about personal safety, including medication management and fall prevention. But increased attention is now being focused on the importance of socializing and maintaining human relationships throughout life.

For many years, research focused on the "practical" view of socialization: seniors with more developed social connections could get a ride to the doctor, find someone to lend a hand with physical care, go out to dinner with companions, walk around the park with friends. And the support of family and friends is indeed an important part of the picture. But we now know that it isn't by any means the whole story of why social engagement is so important.

Science Says: 8 Good Reasons to Be Socially Engaged

Recent studies confirm that socialization can have a positive impact in these areas:

1. Immune System. A 2007 study demonstrated that loneliness decreases the efficiency of the human immune system. The study's author, Dr. Steven Cole of University of California Los Angeles, says, "The biological impact of social isolation reaches down into some of our most basic internal processes—the activity of our genes." Several other studies also confirm that people with strong social connections exhibit better immunity against disease.

2. Blood Pressure: University of Chicago researchers released a study in 2006 showing that loneliness is linked to high blood pressure. Stress seems to be a key element of this connection. Author John Cacioppo points out that lonely individuals are less likely to approach stressful situations with "active coping and attempting to problem solve," which leads to a hypertension-promoting passive reaction. For humans, discussing one's problems with someone else is an important stress buster.

3. Brain Health and Memory: A 2009 study from the American Academy of Neurology examining stress and dementia confirms that people who are socially active may be less likely to develop cognitive impairment. And a 2008 Harvard School of Public Health study showed that an active social life slows memory loss. In another University of Chicago study, MRI scans confirmed the negative impact of loneliness on brain health. It is important to note that in these studies, the researchers were careful to rule out "reverse causation"—the possibility that study participants were less social because they had memory loss, and not the opposite.

4. Physical Activity: Physical activity is frequently called the number one ingredient for healthy aging…and numerous studies demonstrate that social connections lead to increased exercise. According to the International Council on Active Aging of Vancouver, one of the main predictors that seniors will maintain a fitness program over time is the good old "buddy system." So keep yourself motivated, and surround yourself with other people who will support your fitness goals.

5. Depression: Depression is one of the most common challenges of growing older—and one of the most important and powerful ways to fight depression is to interact and engage with others. A 2009 report from the American Sociological Association examined the connection between depression and feelings of loneliness, confirming that the two are intertwined. Untreated, depression can cause a senior to withdraw from social engagement…but spending more time with others can help "jump start" recovery.

6. Pain: Unfortunately, physical pain from conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis becomes more common as we grow older. Chronic pain can have a major negative impact on quality of life. A Harvard Medical School study describes the cycle: "Pain slows recovery from depression, depression makes pain harder to treat…depression leads to isolation and isolation leads to further depression." Maintaining social connection with others can be an important tool in decreasing the impact of pain. And people who are coping with chronic pain also report positive effects from participating in support groups with others who are dealing with the same challenges.

7. Nutrition: Gerontologists have long known that social isolation is a big risk factor for malnutrition. A 2009 study of hospitalized seniors from the Université de Montreal found "a clear correlation between food intake and social interaction." Seniors who live alone often say that it is "just too much trouble" to fix a nutritious meal for one, and they may skip meals or get in the habit of snacking on junk food. This can lead to a serious weight loss—or, in some cases, to obesity, when a lonely person turns to food for companionship.

8. Relationships: It may seem paradoxical, but socialization with a large number of people has been shown to have a positive impact on our primary relationships. A 2009 AARP study points out that even though seniors are closer to their spouses than ever before, "that kind of intimacy can work against us if we allow ourselves to 'cocoon' within the relationship."  Married couples who become too insular tend to expect their partner to meet all their emotional needs. In the same way, too much reliance on the parent/child bond can also be stressful for both, even when parents and children are the kind who describe each other as "best friends." Studies show that seniors who socialize not only with family members but also with their peers have better emotional, intellectual and physical health.

For More Information

The Canadian Mental Health Association offers information about avoiding loneliness during our older years.

Seniors Canada includes a wide selection of information about seniors and depression within their Mental Health resource collection.

Next Month: See "Meeting the Socialization Challenges of Our Later Years" in the February 2010 issue of Choices.