How to Improve Life Expectancy by 204%

New Study Reveals Key Activity for Longevity

A groundbreaking study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, has identified one critical factor in extending life expectancy, showing that it can delay death by as much as 204% among older adults.

Rising Elderly Population

In 2017, the global population of individuals aged 60 and older reached 962 million, a number projected to double by 2050. This demographic shift has spurred research into "active" or "successful" aging, with findings increasingly pointing to the importance of an active social life.

Impact of Social Engagement on Longevity

The study found that regular social engagement could significantly extend lifespan. Based on data from over 28,000 participants, researchers found that socializing nearly every day had the most pronounced impact on longevity. This research fills a gap by focusing on individuals in Asia, providing insights beyond the predominantly Western-focused data available until now.

Study Cohort

To understand the correlation between socializing and survival rates, researchers analyzed participants from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), a long-term study that began in 1998. The study analyzed five waves of data collected from 2002 to 2019, involving 28,563 people with an average age of 89.

Data Collection and Frequency of Social Interaction

Participants were asked to report the frequency of their social interactions as either: almost every day, at least once a week, once a month, occasionally, or never. The study also gathered information on other influential factors, including gender, education, marital status, income, diet, lifestyle, and health status. Survival was tracked over an average of five years.

Socialization Frequency and Mortality Rates

In the initial five years, participants reported their levels of social engagement as follows:

• 25,406 had no social activities

• 1,379 socialized occasionally

• 693 socialized monthly

• 553 socialized weekly

• 532 socialized nearly every day

During the monitoring period, 74% of the participants (21,161 individuals) died, with 15,728 deaths occurring in the first five years.

Mortality Rates Based on Socializing Frequency

The analysis showed a strong correlation between frequent socializing and longer survival. For the first five years, the standardized death rates were as follows:

• 18.4 per 100 people for those who never socialized

• 8.8 for occasional socializers

• 8.3 for monthly socializers

• 7.5 for weekly socializers

• 7.3 for those who socialized nearly every day

Percentage Delay in Death

When examining death delays, social engagement appeared highly beneficial. For individuals who socialized:

• Occasionally: 42% delay in death

• Monthly: 48% delay in death

• Weekly: 110% delay in death

• Nearly every day: 87% delay in death

Death Rates Over Time

At the five-year mark, standardized death rates were:

• 6.2 per 100 for non-socializers

• 4.8 for occasional socializers

• 5 for monthly socializers

• 5.4 for weekly socializers

• 3.6 for those socializing almost daily

Factors Associated with Increased Social Activity

The study found that those who socialized more frequently were more likely to be male, younger, well-educated, married, living in urban areas, or in good health. Data stratification indicated that social activity is even more closely associated with survival rates in the oldest participants, highlighting the importance of fostering social engagement among the very elderly.

Study Limitations

The study, while significant, does have limitations. As an observational study, it cannot definitively establish causation. Additionally, researchers noted that socializing patterns may vary over time and may be influenced by other health behaviors, including diet, exercise, sleep, and alcohol consumption.

Role of Socializing in Reducing Stress

Socializing may also reduce chronic stress, which is linked to numerous adverse health effects. Chronic stress arises from persistent pressure or overwhelming circumstances, which can include financial hardship, dysfunctional relationships, poor sleep, or long-term health issues.

Conclusion

The research team, including Ziqiong Wang, Yi Zheng, Haiyan Ruan, Liying Li, Linjia Duan, and Sen He, stated, "In our study, although the association between social activity frequency and overall survival attenuated after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, socio-economic status, healthy behaviors, and several morbidities, it still remained statistically significant, which indicated that social activity participation, per se, was an independent predictor for overall survival in older people."

This study underscores the profound impact of socializing on longevity, suggesting that maintaining regular social interaction in older age could delay death by over 200% compared to those who do not socialize at all.

Study Links:

https://jech.bmj.com/content/77/5/277

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36878718/

https://bit.ly/3nGPaDy

https://bit.ly/3zyIzOm

https://www.altmetric.com/details/143309190