Why It’s Important to Stay Social as You Age – and 5 Ways to Do It New research shows that staying social has numerous mental and physical health benefits. The new study found that 60-year-olds who visited with friends almost daily were 12 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who only saw one or two friends every few months. The National Institute on Aging says research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. Activities such as volunteering, hobbies, travel, and even social media are all ways people can remain socially active and connected throughout their lives. More than 13 million people age 65 and older lived alone in 2017, a situation that isn’t ideal for a person’s mental and physical well-being. “We know social isolation is a serious threat to health and affects us mentally and physically,” Dr. Raymond Hobbs, physician consultant at Blue