Social activities lengthen life in elderly Americans

The health benefits of physical activity have been well documented. Few studies have examined the potential benefits of social and productive activity in later life. Glass et al (p 478) studied a sample of older people in a small city in the United States. They found that socially active and productive people lived significantly longer over the 13 years of observation. The benefits of non-physical activities were observed among those who were less healthy and less physically active. This study supports the importance of social engagement for older people and suggests that factors other than physical fitness may explain why activity is good for health.