Lifelong Social Ties and the Epigenetic Clock
New research suggests that strong, sustained social connections across life may slow aging at the cellular level. In a study drawing on data from more than 2,100 adults in the long-running MIDUS project, researchers found that people with greater cumulative social advantage tended to show slower rates of epigenetic aging and lower chronic inflammation. The work, published in Brain, Behavior & Immunity – Health, centers on epigenetic clocks—molecular markers that estimate how quickly the body is aging—and highlights two clocks, GrimAge and DunedinPACE, as among the best predictors of disease risk and lifespan.
The MIDUS Study and What Was Measured
The researchers analyzed data from a large, diverse sample in the MIDUS study, focusing not on isolated social factors but on the cumulative effect of lifelong social resources. Participants who maintained broader and more consistent social networks demonstrated younger biological profiles on both GrimAge and DunedinPACE clocks. In addition to epigenetic age, the study examined inflammatory markers, most notably interleukin-6 (IL-6), a molecule linked to heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegeneration when elevated.
The Concept of Cumulative Social Advantage
Crucially, the study defines cumulative social advantage as a multidimensional construct. It combines four life-spanning domains: the warmth and support received from parents during childhood, ongoing feelings of connection to one’s community and neighborhood, involvement in religious or faith-based communities, and the level of emotional support from friends and family. “Cumulative social advantage” reflects how relational resources accumulate and reinforce each other over time, shaping health trajectories well into adulthood.
How Social Advantage May Shape Biological Aging
Ong and colleagues propose that sustained social advantages influence core regulatory systems tied to aging, including epigenetic, inflammatory, and neuroendocrine pathways. A striking finding was that higher social advantage correlated with lower IL-6 levels, suggesting reduced systemic inflammation. Interestingly, the study did not find significant associations with short-term stress markers like cortisol or catecholamines, indicating that the relationship between social life and aging may operate through pathways beyond immediate stress responses.
Why This Matters for Health and Longevity
Unlike earlier work that examined social factors in isolation, this study emphasizes the cumulative, life-spanning nature of social resources. The authors argue that the depth and consistency of social connections, built across decades and various spheres of life, can alter aging at the cellular level. The authors use a retirement-account metaphor to describe the effect: investing in social ties earlier and maintaining them over time yields larger biological returns, potentially translating into slower aging and lower disease risk.
Implications and Next Steps
While the findings do not imply that a single friendship can reverse aging, they highlight the profound health impact of nurturing social networks over the long term. If confirmed across diverse populations, these results could influence public health strategies that promote community engagement, family support, and faith-based or civic participation as part of aging well. The study adds to a growing view that social life is a core determinant of physiological health, not merely a source of happiness or stress relief.
<h2 About the Study
The article, titled “Cumulative social advantage is associated with slower epigenetic aging and lower systemic inflammation,” is authored by Anthony D. Ong, Frank D. Mann, and Laura D. Kubzansky. Published in 2025 in Brain, Behavior & Immunity – Health, the work uses epigenetic clocks GrimAge and DunedinPACE to quantify aging, and IL-6 to index inflammation. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101096
