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male bottlenose dolphin Age grows more slowly than those with strong friendships. more isolated coworkersAccording to a new study that highlights the importance of social connections healthy aging In mammals.
Bottlenose dolphins can form friendships that can last for decades, such as companionship seen in humans,
Previous research has shown that male dolphin Some species hang out, play together, surf for fun, relax together and form long-lasting, deep social bonds.
This pattern of bonding is unique to men friendship It is believed that female dolphins bear offspring of the same age.
“It reminds me of two kindergarten friends who stay together through school, careers and retirement and share all the joys and challenges of life,” explains Livia Gerber, a wildlife biologist at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO).
In a new study, researchers analyzed 50 skin tissue samples from 38 bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay.
Scientists also assessed data on social interactions between dolphins in the bay based on years of observations.
They found that male dolphins with strong social bonds age more slowly than their peers who live solitary lives.
“We knew that social bonds help animals live longer, but this is the first time we’ve shown that they influence the aging process,” said Gerber, lead author of the study published in. Nature Communications Biology.
“Social connections are so important for health that they slow down aging at the cellular level,” he said.
Lonely dolphins may have to hunt for themselves, compete for mates without backup, and face sharks and other predators — factors that may contribute to a stressful survival, the researchers say.
“Being friends means you hunt together, watch over each other, and share the load,” Dr. Gerber said.
Until now, most research on the effects of friendship on aging has focused on the animal’s chronological age since birth and lifespan.
However, in the latest study, scientists estimated the dolphins’ actual biological age based on individual DNA markers.
Studies have shown that such an “epigenetic clock” provides a better indicator of an animal’s overall health and aging status.
In previous studies, epigenetic clocks have revealed how factors such as pollution, depression, and positive or negative social bonds affect biological age.
“We are increasingly using epigenetic data, including the epigenetic clocks used here, to advance our knowledge of the ecology of wild populations,” said Lee Rollins, another study author from the University of New South Wales.
Scientists say the findings highlight the importance of healthy eating and exercise, as well as investing time in meaningful relationships, for a long life.
“The health benefits of friendship are not exclusive to humans, but are a fundamental biological principle in social mammals,” Dr. Gerber said.
“I’m predicting that we’ll find that friendship is a natural anti-aging secret to all social creatures,” she said.