I was in the gym this morning and was a reluctant spectator, or listener, or whatever, to a lively discussion. It was 4-5 gentlemen of the boomer generation ( ie a little north of my age, though I am also a proud resident of the northern boundary of that territory) discussing the talents and flaws of current and recently past NBA players. Now, in the gym I am almost always a “I’m here for the work” dude. I go top the same gym 4X a week, and have when I’m in town for 3-4 years, and I only have a nodding acquaintance with a few folks, except for people I know from elsewhere. And by nodding, I mean that I literally will nod my head at them, and they at me, while mumbling “morning” as we pass. So I normally consider noisy folks an unwelcome distraction, whether I’m hearing one end of a phone conversation or some enlightened soul deciding that we all need to hear whatever music they prefer.( AHHHH!!!!, btw..)

But this one struck me different. One, maybe because it seemed so light-hearted. There were disagreements but they were friendly disagreements. And maybe I was just in the right mood. But what occurred to me was that this interaction was neccesary. Necessary and healthy. It is a real benefit of going to the gym for many folks, of all ages. But for older folks, who are retired and have less access to evenings out and, let’s face it, are less inclined to do so even if they can, any type of social interaction is a healthy thing.

Why? Glad you asked.

Because lack of social interaction can lead to;

1.Loneliness – the topic of loneliness among senior citizens deserves its own blog, but the main takeaway is loneliness is linked to cognitive and functional decline. A study from UC San Francisco found loneliness to be a risk factor for functional decline and also early deaths in seniors over age 60.
2. Depression – a study out of Amsterdam by Max L. Stek and team showed that people with perceived loneliness were likely to be affected by depression, which in old age had a greater impact on mortality
3. Less physical activity – you’re less likely to be physically active if you’re going at it alone without an accountability partner or group of people to motivate you. Not only that, but the TV is an easy distraction (and bad habit) that can keep you sedentary.

But the title of this blog was the benefits of Social Interaction, so let’s accentuate the positive, shall we, Bob?

Sure thing. Some of the benefits of social interaction include;

Improved Mental Health– When we’re socially engaged, we’re less likely to fall victim to mental illnesses, like depression. According to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), social isolation is a key trigger for mental illness. On the contrary, you’re more likely to have better mental health if you have supportive relationships with friends, family and neighbors.

Improved Physical Health– There are many physical benefits to your health that come with being socially engaged. A study found that social networks help control hypertension. The benefits of being social among older adults include potentially reduced risk for cardiovascular problems, some cancers, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. There was also a study conducted at the University of Rochester Medical Center that supported the idea that increased social engagement among seniors not only helped to lower blood pressure but also reduced the risk of cardiovascular issues and forms of arthritis. Also, a 2001 study by Lennartsson and Silverstein found by studying 537 seniors in Sweden aged 77 and over, that people who partook in social-friendship and social-cultural activities are associated with reduced mortality.

Better Brain Health– We tend to have higher levels of cognitive function with increased social interaction. A 2007 study conducted in California by Valerie C. Crooks and colleagues, followed 2,249 women and found that “older women who maintained large social networks reduced their risk of dementia and delayed or prevented cognitive impairment.” The researchers also found that the size of the social network matters. Of these 2,249 Californian women, those with larger social networks were 26% less likely to develop dementia compared to the participants with smaller social circles. In another study, 1,138 seniors with dementia were measured for social activity levels and cognitive functioning over a 12-year period. People with frequent social interaction had 70% less cognitive decline than people with low social interaction.

Safety- Simply by being around others, you’ll be more likely to live safely. Not only can someone help you if you have a bad fall, but you can also lean on your community and circle of influence for a plethora of other non-ideal situations that may arise.

Tech Help- Maybe not a direct health benefit, but a social “boost”, if you will. This applies to all ages, but especially to seniors who struggle with a larger tech hurdle. We can learn shortcuts and easy how-to lessons from other people within our social circles. When it comes to technology, simply having people around you to show you the way can make such a big difference. And yeah, kids, we know we’re slow. But you don’t know how to fix a starter / solenoid with a hammer either, so stick that in your , umm, vape-thingy and blow huge plumes of smoke with it…..

…but I digress…

So, the message to me is that every loud interaction at the gym, or store, or park, etc is not an attempt to piss me off.

The message to you, especially you of a certain demographic, is that actively seeking social interaction, even if it seems awkward at times, is a healthy thing. Not just philosophically, but physically and mentally. Get out the door, join a club, go have a beer or glass of wine at your local. There’s a great big world out there and you haven’t seen it all yet.

Talk Later,

Bob