A study has shown that volunteering even for just one hour a week can slow down aging.

According to a research team at Washington University in St. Louis, USA, volunteering has been shown to slow biological aging. Biological age reflects how much cells and tissues have aged, indicating whether aging is slower or faster compared to chronological age.

 

The relationship between volunteering and biological aging

The research team analyzed data from 2,605 Americans aged 62 and older. They investigated how often the participants volunteered and used devices to measure biological age at the cellular level to assess aging.

As a result, people who volunteered for 1 to 4 hours a week were found to experience biological aging more slowly compared to those who did not volunteer at all. In particular, among retirees, the correlation between volunteering and the rate of aging was stronger than in those who were still working. Retirees showed slower biological aging even when they volunteered for just one hour a week.

Additionally

The more time spent volunteering, the more pronounced the positive impact on health. Volunteering for more than 4 hours a week was associated with the greatest reduction in biological age acceleration, regardless of retirement status. This study aligns with previous research suggesting that volunteering can reduce mortality rates among the elderly.

 

Reasons why volunteering can lead to healthier aging

 

So why does volunteering have such a profound impact on health and longevity? Experts say that "physical, social, and psychological benefits work together in a complex way."

 

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

 

Dr. Sajjad Zazala, the medical director of AgelessRx, a remote healthcare platform for longevity and aging prevention in the United States, said, "We live in a society that is not connected," and "volunteering can provide a social network."

 

Social networks can reduce stress and improve cognitive function. Experts say, "When isolated and lonely, there is little conversation, and emotional connections with others are lacking," and "Increasing social interaction through volunteering can help extend life expectancy."

 

The research team explained, "Additionally, volunteering can also provide a sense of purpose, improve mental health, and help mitigate the loss of important roles such as that of a spouse or parent as one ages."

 

 

Dr. Jjaljalla said, "Volunteering can give us a slight psychological uplift and make individuals feel like they are trying to do something to create a better world," and "Volunteer activities such as mentoring, organizing community events, or sharing meals can help lead to a longer, better life."

 

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Volunteer work for four years starting from 2015

To the welfare center or organization every week

I attended.

 

Just by volunteering

It seems that biological aging can be prevented.

 

I need to do more volunteering.