Just one hour of this a week can help slow aging.

A study found that volunteering just one hour a week could slow down aging.

According to a research team at the Washington University School of Social Work in St. Louis, volunteering has been shown to slow biological aging. Biological age reflects how old your cells and tissues are, indicating how slowly or quickly you age compared to your chronological age.

 

The Link Between Volunteering and Biological Aging

The research team analyzed data from 2,605 Americans aged 62 and older. They measured how often participants volunteered and used a device to measure their biological age, which measures aging at the cellular level.

As a result, people who volunteered for one to four hours a week showed slower biological aging compared to those who did not volunteer at all. The link between volunteering and aging was particularly strong among retirees compared to those who were still working. Even volunteering for just one hour a week slowed biological aging in retirees.

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The longer volunteer time, the more pronounced the health impact. Volunteering four or more hours per week was associated with the greatest reduction in biological age acceleration, regardless of retirement status. This study aligns with previous research showing that volunteering can reduce mortality in older adults.

 

Why Volunteering Can Lead to Healthier Aging

 

So why does volunteering have such a profound impact on health and longevity? Experts say, “The physical, social and psychological benefits work together.”

 

First, volunteering often involves physical activity, such as walking, which contributes to healthier aging. Social connections also play an important role.

 

“We live in a disconnected society,” said Dr. Sajjad Zaljala, medical director of AgelessRx, a U.S.-based longevity and anti-aging telemedicine platform. “Volunteering can provide a social network.”

 

Social networks can reduce stress and improve cognitive function. Experts say, "If you're isolated and lonely, you don't have much conversation and don't have emotional connections with others. Increasing social interaction through volunteering can help extend life expectancy."

 

“Volunteering can also improve mental health by providing a sense of purpose and can mitigate the loss of important roles, such as spouses or parents, as we age,” the research team explained.

 

 

Dr. Zaljala says, “Volunteering can give us a little psychological boost and make us feel like we’re doing something to make the world a better place.” “Volunteering, whether it’s mentoring, organizing community events, or handing out meals, can help people live longer, better lives,” she said.

 

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Volunteered for 4 years since 2015

To the welfare center and institution every week

I went there.

 

Just by volunteering

I guess we can stop biological aging.

 

I need to volunteer more.