A study published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B shows that little social interaction reduces the risk of infectious diseases. Here are the results of a study on monkeys.
Lower risk of highly contagious diseases
British researchers say that having fewer new friendships reduces the risk of catching a disease. They came to this conclusion by studying elderly monkeys. They observed rhesus macaques in Cayo Santiago, also known as “Monkey Island,” to understand the impact of aging on social interactions and infection risk. They focused on the number of social partners, the time spent with other monkeys, and networking within the group.
The researchers then compared this data with epidemiological models to simulate the spread of a pathogen that can be rapidly transmitted.
After analyzing all the data they collected, the researchers found that older macaques, who have weaker immune systems, are less prone to contracting infectious diseases than younger macaques. The main reason for this is probably that they have fewer social relationships. They add that the benefits of this “social aging” would be even greater if the disease was highly contagious and more severe for older monkeys.
Social isolation or survival instinct? Given this discovery, the study authors suspect that the age-related decline in social relationships may actually be related to a survival instinct: older macaques actually try to stay healthy.
Be careful:
this study has limitations. Only diseases that spread through close direct contact, such as the human common cold, were considered.
Moreover, while social isolation can have a positive effect on physical health, it can have a negative effect on mental health. We protect ourselves from others, but not too much.