The Number One Predictor of Health in Old Age

I write a lot about various lifestyle factors and their contribution to longevity and health and wellness, but there’s one factor that is considered the most reliable predictor of health in old age that tends to get lost (including by me) in the vast sea of health and wellness information.

Nope, it’s not exercise.

It’s not diet.

It’s not whether or not you smoke.

It’s not whether or not you’re overweight.

If you can’t guess what it is, you’re not alone – or perhaps you are, and that’s actually what I’m talking about!

A very-long-term study dating back several decades that continues today, The Harvard Study of Adult Development has found that social connection is the most important factor in longevity and health in one’s later years.

The study’s findings are quite clear that loneliness and social isolation leads to decreased lifespan, as well as poor health and reduced happiness in old age.

And you don’t even have to feel lonely to suffer the adverse effects of social isolation – just not having much social interaction has similar negative health effects to those who actually report feeling lonely.

In addition to decreased lifespan, social isolation is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, depression, dementia, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

It’s a common problem – various surveys have found that 30 to 40% of adults self-report problems of loneliness and isolation – and the trend is getting worse.

Social isolation is not a new problem, but current technology such as cell phones and the internet seem to be driving forces in people becoming less and less socially connected.

Ironically, social media seems to be making us less social!

So what can we do to become more connected to others and avoid social isolation”

Well, like most healthy measures, it’s really something that needs to be undertaken as a long-term lifestyle change.

Ultimately, it requires meeting new people and building relationships with the ones you connect with – and making time to connect in-person. Keeping in touch via Zoom, Facetime, etc. is better than nothing or text-only communication, but in-person socializing is the most effective at combating social isolation and loneliness.

Meeting people can be a challenge, but it usually helps to start with a pre-existing interest and look for opportunities to share it with others. For example, if you like to exercise, going to the gym and, even better, joining group exercise classes, is a good way to make some new friends.

A wide variety of other interests can be explored with other people through groups that can be found on sites like Meetup or Facebook.

Once you’ve made some connections, you may need to make an effort to keep things going. Everyone’s busy, and lots of people get caught up in their routines. So making a point to get together is important – and the more frequently, the better! Shoot for a get-together with one or more friends at least once a week – even if only for a relatively short time like grabbing coffee or going for a walk.

Oh, and going back to cell phones – it is strongly recommended that you put them away and silent when you do get together with people – be fully present with each other and enjoy it without constant distractions!

Until next time…

George F. Best, D.C.