Researchers Found A Surprising Longevity Risk For Older Men

Think about an older man in your life who seems well connected.

He may have family nearby, a few close friends, and plenty of people he could call. But when was the last time someone actually stopped by for a visit?

The researchers found that the relationship between isolation and mortality looked very different depending on how they measured a person's social connections.

For older men in particular, one type of connection appeared to matter more than having a large social circle.

About the study

Researchers analyzed data from 7,026 adults age 65 and older who participated in the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Participants were followed for up to 12 years, and 2,457 people, or about 35% of the group, died during that time.

The researchers wanted to answer two questions. Does social isolation relate to a higher risk of death in older adults? And does the answer change depending on how isolation is defined?

To find out, they compared two established measures of social isolation called Pohl's measure and Cudjoe's measure. Both use information from the same national study, but they focus on different aspects of someone's social life.

Pohl's measure puts more emphasis on relationships with family and friends, including whether someone has seen them in person recently.

It also considers marriage, religious attendance, and participation in clubs or other organized activities. Cudjoe's measure focuses more on the size of someone's social network, whether they live with someone else, religious attendance, and social participation.

The risk was clearer when researchers looked at in-person connection

Using Pohl's measure, older men who were somewhat socially isolated had a 47% higher risk of death than socially integrated men. Those considered severely isolated had a 75% higher risk. The same pattern wasn't found among women.

Cudjoe's measure told a different story.

After researchers accounted for participants' health and health behaviors, the association between social isolation and mortality was no longer statistically significant.

Only about 37% of participants were classified in the same isolation category by both measures.

That matters because it suggests that simply asking whether someone has a big social network may not tell the whole story.

Why seeing someone in person may matter

Of all the individual pieces that made up the two measures, one stood out most: whether someone had visited with friends or family in person during the previous month.

That mattered more than marital status or club participation. Seeing someone face-to-face also makes it easier to notice what a phone call can hide, like an older relative seeming more tired than usual or needing help getting to an appointment.

The authors note that older men may be less likely to seek support or join organized activities, and that expectations around self-reliance and toughness may play a role.

Because this was an observational study, it can't prove isolation causes earlier death, but it does suggest how we measure isolation matters, and that in-person connection is worth closer attention.

How to make social connection part of everyday life

Make time to visit: Phone calls and texts still count for something, but try to add regular face-to-face time when possible. A coffee, walk, or shared meal can be enough.

Take the lead: If an older parent or relative tends to keep to himself, don't wait for him to make plans. Pick a day and suggest something simple.

Mention isolation to a doctor: If someone seems increasingly withdrawn, bring it up at their next appointment. The researchers note that screening for social isolation and connecting patients with community resources are still underused in the U.S.

The takeaway

For older men, social connection may be about more than having people to call.

Regular in-person contact could be an important part of staying connected and supporting health as we age, although more research is needed to understand exactly why.