Happy New Year from our team at Neurology Office! As 2025 brings us a fresh start to achieving our goals, let’s remember that when we become better, we also benefit the lives of those around us. It’s a win-win!
Strong Relationships for a Longer Life
When looking at wellness culture today, you may notice a strong emphasis on diet and exercise as the catch-all prescription for a longer and healthier life.
While these recommendations are crucial, one piece of the puzzle that tends to get overlooked is the health of one’s social relationships.
Did you know that one of the top predictors of health as you age is the level of satisfaction in your relationships?
We now know that building and maintaining strong relationships has a much greater impact on our health and longevity than we previously imagined.
Emerging studies show that people with strong, healthy relationships have better memory, experience less mental deterioration, and live longer, healthier lives.
Unfortunately, the opposite effect is also evident when social relationships are absent from a person’s life.
Today, one in three Americans suffers from the silent epidemic of loneliness. According to the CDC, the health risks of loneliness and social isolation can be as deadly as smoking or alcoholism, substantially increasing a person’s risk of disease, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and anxiety, suicidal ideation, dementia, and early death.
In this article, we will explore the key role social relationships play in neurobiological health, how relationships can prevent and help manage disease, and ways to strengthen your support network.
How Social Relationships Benefit Neurobiological Health
Reduced Stress & Depression
As a social species, we’ve evolved to rely on support systems and collaboration as a means of protection and survival. When we feel connected and supported by those around us, our brains sense that we are safe, and we experience less stress and mental health issues. We have reduced levels of cortisol, the stress chemicals, and are able to be much more relaxed and calm.
In our digital-first world, it can be very easy to become lonely. Texts have replaced phone calls; social media has replaced coffee dates, and dating websites have replaced night outs in town. In addition, as we age, we face health and mobility challenges, further contributing to social isolation and lost connections.
It turns out our brains don’t like to be alone. If you find yourself limited in your ability to participate in social activities, know that maintaining any means of healthy social connection, whether via phone or in person, is valuable to your mental well-being.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, human connection was cited to be a differentiating factor that contributed to the reduced risk of mental health issues for people across all backgrounds. Studies found that individuals who maintained close social relationships and experienced more face-to-face interactions had fewer depressive symptoms, even when contact was done via phone or video.
Anti-Aging Effects & Longevity
Did you know that the quality of your relationships can increase not only your lifespan but your health span (the length of time you live without disease), too?
This phenomenon has been highlighted by Dan Buettner, founder of the Blue Zones Project, who studied groups of centenarian communities worldwide. He found that belonging to a community and maintaining close relationships were key factors in reducing mortality rates by 40-50%. These groups were shown to live longer and healthier, with fewer diseases, even in old age.
For many of these communities, relationships centered around family, community growth, and keeping an active and balanced lifestyle were shown to be a recipe for success.
When it comes to brain health and aging, the adage rings true: use it or lose it!
Engaging in healthy social dynamics has been found to activate regions of the brain associated with reward, attachment, and stress reduction – all known to be especially beneficial the more we age. As the brain registers this healthy mental stimulation, stress levels decrease, leading to a healthier, longer life.
Positive social interactions can increase dopamine levels, which some call the happiness chemical. Increased dopamine increases an overall sense of well- being. It also helps with movement disorders and can assist with improved balance.
Mental Resilience & Better Outcomes
Whether it is spending the weekends with your family, visiting your physical therapist, or meeting with friends to play cards, the benefits of social relationships are clear. However, when challenges approach in the form of a medical diagnosis, injury, or significant life change, relationships shine as a true superpower.
On a deep neurological level, strong relationships create mental and emotional resilience. This ability to cope can not only help you stay positive in hard times but can also reduce the severity of your symptoms.
Many studies continue to uncover the power of a support network in managing disease. Collectively, the message is resoundingly clear: Patients who are surrounded and supported by people who care do better.
Here are some powerful findings:
- In the case of patients with dementia, studies have shown that consistent emotional support and social interaction have the power to delay cognitive decline and institutional care.
- For patients living with heart disease, a study found that married individuals were 52% less likely to have a heart attack or die after nearly four years compared to unmarried patients.
- MS patients with a close support system experienced less stress and fatigue and found better success in treatment
- In one study, participation in the community was shown to be a key indicator of recovery for stroke victims.
Even for those who engage in unhealthy lifestyle habits, social relationships have proven to elevate mood and even decrease blood pressure. In one landmark mortality study, individuals with strong social ties were found to be three times less likely to die in comparison to those with healthier lifestyle habits.
Ways to Cultivate Meaningful Relationships
With benefits like these, there is little doubt that focusing on relationships can have powerful benefits. But how can you get started?
Start small
Just by calling a friend or catching up with family members, the brain can already begin to feel the positive effects of human connection. Joining faith-based communities or community-driven organizations in your area is a great way to connect with like-minded individuals.
Not limited to social groups
Cultivating a strong support network or a “village” can help remove feelings of isolation throughout different stages of life. Whether you are going through a health journey or managing a condition, building a team around you can make all the difference in feeling supported and being less alone.
Your team can consist of any of the following and more:
- Mental health professionals
- Accountability coaches in the area of fitness, health, and/or finance
- Nursing homes and assisted living communities
- Community groups or co-ops
Give Back
If you find yourself fortunate to contribute your time in a way that is meaningful to you, finding a group of like-minded individuals passionate about a cause that is close to your heart can bring satisfaction and fulfillment at any stage of life.
We all know that volunteering is not only something that is good for the people you help, but it also good for you. Interacting with others in a positive way helps you in so many ways.
Get Online with Purpose
While social media can sometimes feel overwhelming, purposeful exploration can foster meaningful social connections. Through virtual groups, forums, and local organization hubs, you can discover nearby meet-ups, resources, and like-minded individuals to connect with, alongside access to professional assistance at a lower cost. It is so simple to start with one or two topics that you are interested in and get involved in that social group through social networks. This can often springboard into meeting up and having personal interactions, not just computer-based interactions.
For more Neurology Office resources, feel free to visit the following links below:
Stress Reduction for the New Year
A Patient Guide to Managing Chronic Stress
Community Resources:
Commit to Connect https://committoconnect.org/
A Message From Dr. Kandel
“Being part of your community, in whatever way you choose, can have so many positive health benefits. You can feel better, live longer, think more clearly, and overall just be happier. And isn’t that worth it so go ahead, step out of your comfort zone, reach out, and help yourself feel better. Let’s get 2025 off to the right start!”
Citations:
- Colloby S, Whiting S, Warren A. Supporting the couple relationship following dementia diagnosis: A scoping review. Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Nov;30(6):e3643-e3655. doi: 10.1111/hsc.14006. Epub 2022 Sep 20. PMID: 36124618; PMCID: PMC10087355.
- Schultz WM, Hayek SS, Samman Tahhan A, Ko YA, Sandesara P, Awad M, Mohammed KH, Patel K, Yuan M, Zheng S, Topel ML, Hartsfield J, Bhimani R, Varghese T, Kim JH, Shaw L, Wilson P, Vaccarino V, Quyyumi AA. Marital Status and Outcomes in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease. J Am Heart Assoc. 2017 Dec 20;6(12):e005890. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.117.005890. PMID: 29263033; PMCID: PMC5778993.
- Hosseini Z, Homayuni A, Etemadifar M. Barriers to quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study. BMC Neurol. 2022 May 13;22(1):174. doi: 10.1186/s12883-022-02700-7. PMID: 35562707; PMCID: PMC9102679.
- Chau JPC, Lo SHS, Choi KC, Butt L, Zhao J, Thompson DR. Participation self-efficacy plays a mediation role in the association between mobility and social participation among stroke survivors. Heart Lung. 2021 Nov-Dec;50(6):857-862. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2021.07.002. Epub 2021 Jul 30. PMID: 34333221.
Feel free to share this with the people in your life who may benefit from this information! For more insights on neurology, check out our weekly tips on our Neurology Office Facebook page.
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