SYDNEY, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Social life in later years is shaped more by life experience than genes, and staying connected with friends, neighbors and the community may help protect older adults from depression, a new twin study shows.
The study from the Center for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) at Australia's University of New South Wales analyzed more than 560 twins aged 65 and over across six years to understand how social connections relate to mental and cognitive health, a CHeBA statement said Wednesday.
Researchers found that social connections, including friendships, family interactions, and community participation, were only weakly influenced by genetics, meaning they are mostly shaped by each person's individual experiences and environment.
"Because social connections are not strongly determined by genes, they are highly modifiable," said social health expert Suraj Samtani at CHeBA, the lead researcher of the study that is published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
This means programs and policies designed to boost social engagement can genuinely make a difference for older people, Samtani said.
The study found that older adults who interacted more frequently with friends, neighbors and community members experienced fewer symptoms of depression, both at the start of the study and six years later.
Using data from CHeBA's Older Australian Twins Study, one of Australia's most comprehensive ageing research projects, researchers said that twins share genetics and early environments, revealing what makes individuals truly unique. ■
