As much as we focus on food and fitness as the “physical” arbiters of health and longevity, there appears to be much more.
Lisa Berkman, director of the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, cited that studies have suggested that social isolation carries a mortality risk similar to other major risk factors, such as smoking or alcoholism.
Berkman said that isolation could weaken people’s immune systems, making them more susceptible to infectious diseases. She also noted that people with strong social connections tend to have better health behaviors, like eating healthy foods and being physically active.
Moreover, extensive research shares that people who are more socially connected live longer, and people who are more isolated or lonely are at increased risk for early mortality.
Good relationships don’t just protect our bodies; they protect our brains, and that can lead to a longer and healthier life span.
