The secret of longevity of the inhabitants of Sardinia

On the island of Sardinia in 10 times more centenarians than in North America. According to scientists, the reason for this phenomenon is not a positive attitude towards life and not in the Mediterranean diet.

Susan Pinker (Susan Pinker)

Canadian psychologist. Specialized in Developmental Psychology, leads a column in the Wall Street Journal.

In developed countries, women live on average 6-8 years longer than menGender Disparities in Health and Mortality.. The only place where men and women live equally long - it is an island of SardiniaIdentification of a geographic area characterized by extreme longevity in the Sardinia island..

Susan Pinker has decided to investigate the cause of this phenomenon. She noted that in Sardinia houses in the villages are very close to each other, and the streets are closely intertwined, that is the life of all people constantly intersect. In ancient times, so all the settlements were built, because the architecture of the then influential single factor - the survival and the need of security and social cohesion for him. With the advent of the industrial revolution changed the architecture of the problem.

Pinker spoke with a number of long-lived and came to the conclusion that the outlook on life and the power does not affect the longevity. The reason for it - in communication. Sardinian people throughout their lives constantly surrounded by family, friends, neighbors. They will never live in loneliness. This is different from the other inhabitants of the developed countries.

Personal contact improves health

Many researchers in the past have wondered about the causes of longevity. For example, a psychologist Julianne Holt-Lansted (Julianne Holt-Lunstad) conducted a series of studies examining the lives of tens of thousands of elderly peopleLoneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality.. She considered all aspects of their life: nutrition, physical activity, marital status, the frequency of medical check-ups, bad habits. She and colleagues seven years to check who of the participants are still alive and what factors contributed to their longevity. It turned out it's not sports, not the right diet and even the lack of bad habits.

Life expectancy is influenced by two factors: a close relationship and social integration.

To close are people who you can ask for a loan, if you are in urgent need of money, those who will drive you to the hospital or remain with you in a difficult moment. The presence of these people in your life is a measure of how long you live.

The second factor - social integration - how much do you communicate with people throughout the day. And not only with relatives. Did you talk to the postman? Or the woman who every day goes by your house, walking the dog? Do you belong to any club or society?

Now we all spend more time online communication often occurs also not live, and with the help of electronic devices. But it does not compare with the personal communication.

Live communication elicits useful neurotransmitters.

Even simple visual contact, a handshake, touching enough to produce oxytocin, which reduces the level of cortisolTactile communication, cooperation, and performance. and reduces stress. Yet at the same time it produces dopamine, which acts as a pain reliever.

In addition, when we communicate with someone in person, much more activated areas of the brain associated with attention, social intelligence and emotional rewardsLive face-to-face interaction during fMRI: a new tool for social cognitive neuroscience..

Finally

Now back to the point from which we started: Why do women live longer than men? The main reason is that the fair sex are increasingly focused on personal relationships. And they create a kind of protective shield, guarding against disease and aging. This is true not only for people but also for our relatives, the primates. anthropologists foundStrong and Consistent Social Bonds Enhance the Longevity of Female BaboonsThat female baboons, who have friends, less stressed, and living longer.

We need to feel part of the group. According to scientists, for good health, we need a stable relationship of trust with at least three people. Nowadays, social exclusion is one of the first places among the health risksSocial isolation.. Therefore, it is more important to create the conditions for personal communication in the cities and in the workplace.