1 Min Read How Do Social Relationships Affect Immunity?

In 2015, Perspectives on Psychological Science published a meta-analysis that shocked the public health world: combining data from 148 studies and over 308,849 participants — strong social relationships correlate with twenty-nine percent extended lifespan; and social isolation's impact on mortality is equivalent to smoking fifteen cigarettes per day, exceeding the effects of obesity and physical inactivity.

'Social relationships are key to health' has long been regarded as warm but lacking precise scientific support. But today, neuroimmunology and social epidemiology provide increasing molecular-level evidence: the quality of social bonds, through measurable neural-hormonal-immune pathways, influences NK cell activity, inflammatory marker levels, vaccine response efficacy, and gene expression patterns in immune cells.

For those over forty, this topic has particular practical relevance: retirement, children leaving home, spouse health issues, old friends dispersed — social relationship challenges at this age are often invisible and gradual, but their immune system impact is substantive.