When it comes to living longer, diet, exercise, and genetics come to mind immediately. But growing research indicates that our social interactions, that is, how often we interact with others, the quality of the relationship, and our sense of belonging, play a major role in how long we live. Exercise, dieting are all a part of our lives, and so are our friendly connections we make throughout our lives.
According to Dr. Vassily Elipoulos, a Cornell-trained longevity expert, strong social ties could be a powerful, often underestimated factor in promoting a longer, healthier life. In an era that is dominated by tech and personalised supplements, Dr. Elipoulos is bringing back into the spotlight something profoundly human- lifelong connections.
In his words, “You can eat perfectly, you can life, sleep, meditate. But if you are disconnected, your biology knows”
Video
Feeling isolated raises:
Cortisol
The research titled “ Loneliness and Cortisol: Momentary, Day-to-day, and Trait Associations”, explores the relationship between loneliness and cortisol (stress hormone), highlighting that loneliness can activate and alter cortisol patterns in ways that potentially undermine long-term health. In general, when people feel isolated or excluded, their body perceives this as a threat, activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal. This leads to the release of cortisol, the primary stress hormone.
Inflammation
Loneliness has been linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes. The past research suggests that inflammation is a potential pathway linking loneliness and health, but little is known about how loneliness assessed in daily life links with inflammation. Key findings from research conclude that loneliness is significantly associated with higher levels of CRP, a marker of systemic inflammation. Understanding this connection highlights the importance of social connections not just for emotional well-being, but also for maintaining physical health.
Blood pressure
A research titled, “Loneliness Predicts Increased Blood Pressure: Five-Year Cross-Lagged Analyses in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.” This study found that higher levels of loneliness at the study’s start predicted a significant increase in systolic blood pressure, even after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, cardiovascular risk factors, and medications. This effect persists over multiple years and remains significant even when accounting for various health, behavioural and psychosocial factors.
Dr. Vassily says humans are wired to connect, by that he means
He says, humans are naturally build to connect with each other. When we build connections, talk to each other, share a hug, our brain releases oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine, all the feel-good hormones. They keep us emotionally balanced, calm and happy.
That is why isolation or loneliness can affect both, our mental health and physical health.
According to the blue zone data, the longest living people in the world are the ones:
Dr. Vassily recommends, if one wants to live longer, they should build real connections
According to Dr. Vassily Elipoulos, a Cornell-trained longevity expert, strong social ties could be a powerful, often underestimated factor in promoting a longer, healthier life. In an era that is dominated by tech and personalised supplements, Dr. Elipoulos is bringing back into the spotlight something profoundly human- lifelong connections.
In his words, “You can eat perfectly, you can life, sleep, meditate. But if you are disconnected, your biology knows”
Video
Feeling isolated raises:
Cortisol
The research titled “ Loneliness and Cortisol: Momentary, Day-to-day, and Trait Associations”, explores the relationship between loneliness and cortisol (stress hormone), highlighting that loneliness can activate and alter cortisol patterns in ways that potentially undermine long-term health. In general, when people feel isolated or excluded, their body perceives this as a threat, activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal. This leads to the release of cortisol, the primary stress hormone.
Inflammation
Loneliness has been linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes. The past research suggests that inflammation is a potential pathway linking loneliness and health, but little is known about how loneliness assessed in daily life links with inflammation. Key findings from research conclude that loneliness is significantly associated with higher levels of CRP, a marker of systemic inflammation. Understanding this connection highlights the importance of social connections not just for emotional well-being, but also for maintaining physical health.
Blood pressure
A research titled, “Loneliness Predicts Increased Blood Pressure: Five-Year Cross-Lagged Analyses in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.” This study found that higher levels of loneliness at the study’s start predicted a significant increase in systolic blood pressure, even after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, cardiovascular risk factors, and medications. This effect persists over multiple years and remains significant even when accounting for various health, behavioural and psychosocial factors.
Dr. Vassily says humans are wired to connect, by that he means
He says, humans are naturally build to connect with each other. When we build connections, talk to each other, share a hug, our brain releases oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine, all the feel-good hormones. They keep us emotionally balanced, calm and happy.
That is why isolation or loneliness can affect both, our mental health and physical health.
According to the blue zone data, the longest living people in the world are the ones:
- Live in tight-knit communities
- Eat meals together
- Belong to faith or purpose-driven groups
- Check in with friends daily
Dr. Vassily recommends, if one wants to live longer, they should build real connections
- Spend less time on scrolls, more on shared experiences
- Prioritise real-world conversation
- Call someone who you deeply care about
- Eat with friends or family three times a week
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