One of our seven A’s of SuperAging is Attachment — maintaining relationships and forming new ones. Research now shows it may be the most important component to longevity.
Or at least, its absence may be the most telling handicap to longevity.
So if you want to live to 100, the one thing you should never do is to discount, or overlook, the power of positive relationships.
It’s all too easy to lose sight of the importance of this one factor, especially given the vast quantity of advice, research and programs dealing with diet, fitness, and exciting new therapies. But relationships? We may certainly think they’re desirable, and we certainly wouldn’t prefer to be lonely or isolated — but can relationships really accomplish so much?
As reported here, positive relationships “are the most powerful factor” in increasing our chances to living a longer, healthier and happier life. “One study found that people who didn’t socialize with friends and family had a 39% higher chance of premature death. Another large study of more than 2.2 million people showed that social isolation increased the risk of all-cause mortality.”
That’s because social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of high blood pressure, a weaker immune system, depression and anxiety, and even cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s important to maintain existing relationships, of course, but if you’re going to live to 100, you’ll also need to be able to create new ones. As reported in our book, “SuperAgers are much more ready to actively disrupt unsatisfying relationships, even at the risk of being unattached. This has everything to do with expected longevity. As a SuperAger, you believe you have plenty of time to form new attachments if you want to.”
OK, but how?
Two points to know about.
First, there are very encouraging signs that healthcare systems are beginning to recognize the importance of relationships, and to develop programs to encourage this. The retirement and nursing home industry is a good example of re-thinking the whole model to foster more of a community feeling, more activities and more points of interaction. (A whole other topic is the development of social robots, particularly in Japan, to create relationships with humans who may not have family members or other loved ones for support).
Second, the explosive growth of digital technology is a major influence. As reported in our book, a 2016 study by the government of British Columbia identified eight different technologies that can alleviate social isolation:
- General information and communications (i.e., searching for information, interacting with content)
- Video games
- Robotics
- Personal reminder information and social management systems
- Peer support chat rooms
- Social network sites
- Telehealth
- 3D virtual environments
“Powerful relationships” is no longer just an abstract “good thing” that you may or may not enjoy, but can’t do much about. In the world of SuperAging, it’s a vital component of “getting older without getting old,” and it is very attainable!