Social Butterflies Age More Gracefully

Want to live longer and stay healthier as you age? Get out of the house and mingle. Researchers at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago report that seniors who are more socially active are more likely to retain mobility as they age. The study of 906 healthy adults, average age 66.5, awarded points for such social activities as attending church or sporting events, eating out at restaurants, visiting relatives, volunteering, playing bingo and traveling. Every point below the average score at the study's start was associated with a 33% greater decline in overall motor function-the equivalent of five years of additional aging. That translated into a 40% increased risk of death and a 65% greater risk of disability. Even something as simple as walking speed was related to social activity: The most socially active seniors ranked in the top 10% of gait speed, while the least socially active ranked in the slowest 10%.-Archives of Internal Medicine