Helping others may help you live longer

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New research suggests that helping others may also benefit your own health and longevity. Older adults who volunteered showed slower biological aging than those who did not, even after researchers controlled for factors that might explain the difference, including baseline health, socioeconomic status, education, and physical activity. These findings suggest that volunteering may offer measurable health benefits in addition to its positive impact on others, highlighting social engagement as a potentially meaningful way to support healthier aging.

Source

Kim, S., Halvorsen, C., Potter, C., & Faul, J. (2025). Does volunteering reduce epigenetic age acceleration among retired and working older adults? Results from the Health and Retirement Study. Social science & medicine (1982), 364, 117501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117501

Additional Reading

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/01/30/seniors-volunteering-health-benefits/

https://www.realsimple.com/good-deed-that-can-help-you-live-longer-11918368

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251218060615.htm