Do strong friendships slow down ageing? Science says yes

They say good friends keep you young, and now researchers believe there’s truth to that.

A new study has found that people who build strong, supportive relationships over their lifetime don’t just feel younger, their bodies may actually age more slowly on a biological level.

Published in the journal Brain, Behaviour & Immunity – Health, the research suggests that meaningful relationships and active involvement in community life can “reset” the body’s internal clock, lowering a person’s 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.

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So why do lasting connections matter so much for our health? Here’s what the research says.

What does the study say?

The research looked at more than 2,100 participants from a project called Midlife in the United States.

At the centre of this study were the body’s “epigenetic clocks” – molecular markers that reveal how fast a person is ageing. Two of the most reliable clocks, DunedinPACE and GrimAge, are known to be strong indicators of disease risk and overall lifespan.

The findings showed that people with steady, reliable social connections had much younger biological profiles according to both clocks.

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“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 suggested that lifelong social advantages leave an imprint on vital biological systems tied to ageing – including epigenetic, inflammatory, and neuroendocrine pathways.

One striking observation was that stronger social advantage was linked to lower levels of interleukin-6, an inflammatory molecule associated with conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.

Interestingly, this connection did not extend to short-term stress markers such as cortisol or catecholamines.

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Long-term impact on health

The researchers emphasised that it’s not about a single friendship or a short burst of social activity reversing the ageing process. What truly matters is the depth and steadiness of social ties built over years and across different areas of life.

Their findings revealed that people with stronger “cumulative social advantage” tended to show slower biological ageing and lower levels of chronic inflammation. As Dr Ong explained, “Cumulative social advantage is really about the depth and breadth of your social connections over a lifetime.”

The study reinforces the growing belief that social connections are more than just sources of joy or stress relief – they play a fundamental role in shaping physical health.

“Think of social connections like a retirement account,” Dr Ong said. “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.”

With input from agencies