Long-running research from Harvard continues to underline just how powerful relationships can be: “Loneliness kills,” Robert Waldinger, director of the study, told the Harvard Gazette. “It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.”
Discussing the research, the Harvard professor determined that “embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier.”
“The surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health,” Waldinger said. “Taking care of your body is important, but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too. That, I think, is the revelation…The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.”
Mobility builds confidence
There’s a long-standing belief that physical decline speeds up dramatically with age, creating the impression that losing independence is inevitable. While the body does change over time, research continues to show that mobility plays a much bigger role in maintaining quality of life than many people realize.
Experts say that staying active plays a much bigger role in maintaining quality of life than many people realize. Credit: Shutterstock
Movement, in this context, isn’t about performance or appearance, but about preserving the ability to manage everyday activities with confidence and without relying heavily on others.
This idea is echoed by experts who emphasize the importance of staying active later in life.
“For many older adults, it is helpful to have a conversation about what they value, and often times that includes things like being independent and enjoying things in their life, which often requires being as mobile as possible,” Dr. Angela Catic said in a Baylor College of Medicine report. “If they want to remain as functional and independent as possible, exercise is typically an important part of how they can do that.”
“As we get older, it’s natural that our muscles are not as strong, which is known as sarcopenia. We can slow that with regular exercise,” Catic added.
Foods that support longevity
