Friendship as "Natural Anti-Aging" — What Dolphins Teach Us About Changing the Speed of Aging

Was Friendship the "Sea's Supplement"?

When you hear "anti-aging," words like diet, exercise, sleep, and supplements come to mind. However, in the marine world, the "most effective prescription" might be found elsewhere. The key is friends.

A research team from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia and others published a study examining the relationship between social connections and aging in **male bottlenose dolphins (Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins)** at the molecular level. The conclusion is straightforward and striking.

Male dolphins with strong friendships (social bonds) tended to be "biologically younger." Phys.org

Measured "cellular age," not apparent age

The crux of this study lies in how age was measured. The age we usually refer to is "chronological age," but even at the same age of 40, some people appear youthful while others struggle with fatigue. Recently, the focus in medicine and biology has been on estimating **"epigenetic age"**—so-called "biological age"—from patterns of chemical markers on DNA (such as DNA methylation). The research team used a species-specific epigenetic clock adjusted for dolphins to estimate the "rate of aging" for each individual. Nature

The setting is Shark Bay, based on over 40 years of observational data

The setting is Shark Bay in Western Australia. Here, behavioral observations based on individual identification have been accumulated for over 40 years. The research team meticulously tracked who interacted with whom from long-term observation records to construct social networks (strength of connections). They combined this with skin tissue sample analysis. Phys.org

In the study, they analyzed 50 skin samples obtained from 38 male dolphins to examine the relationship between the strength of social bonds and biological age. Phys.org

Results: "Strength of bonds" matters more than "number of friends"

The results don't just end with the romantic notion that "friendship keeps you young." What's interesting is that they separately examined group size and strength of bonds.

• The stronger the cumulative social bonds, the lower the epigenetic age (biologically younger)

• Conversely, the larger the group size, the higher the epigenetic age (biologically more prone to aging)

In other words, it's not about "hanging out with a large crowd," but the possibility that the quality of deep relationships is what matters. Nature

Why Friendship Might Be a "Brake on Aging"

While researchers avoid definitive causal claims, they propose several plausible hypotheses. For example:

1) Stress Reduction
Having companions can distribute the burdens of foraging, defense, and social maneuvering. Loneliness amplifies stress and health risks in humans, and similarly, if dolphins accumulate "strain," it could accelerate aging through inflammation and oxidative stress. Nature

2) "Energy Saving" through Cooperation
Cooperation saves energy and time. Male dolphin alliances are said to be related to reproductive success, and the benefits gained through cooperation are significant. Nature

3) The Reverse Possibility (Younger Individuals Can Make Friends)
Another important point is the reverse of "friendship creates youth," meaning the possibility that **"individuals in inherently good condition can maintain social relationships."** The study touches on this aspect, noting that the mechanism is a future challenge. Nature

A Study That Also Rethinks "Animal Welfare"

This achievement is not only a result of wild research but also touches on the issue of animal welfare. For social animals, an "environment where they can interact" might not be a luxury but a biological need—researchers also express this awareness. Phys.org

Implications for Human Society: "Relationships" as a Health Habit on Par with "Exercise and Diet"

The article strongly emphasizes the message that "investing in meaningful relationships should be prioritized as much as diet and exercise" for humans. In an era where health information tends to focus on "self-management," dolphin research paradoxically introduces the perspective of reconsidering health as a social concept. Phys.org

SNS Reactions: While There Is Strong Empathy, Some Call for Cautious Interpretation

The topic resonates with the intuitive notion that "ultimately, the key to longevity is friends." Indeed, on social media, reactions tend to focus more on "human relationships" than "self-improvement."

On LinkedIn, it spreads as a counter to biohack fatigue
In one post, the research article was introduced with a succinct and impactful statement.

"You can keep all your biohacks. Friends are what count." LinkedIn
(Paraphrase: Friends are more important than superficial health techniques)

On X (formerly Twitter), The Conversation accounts share it as "Friendship is magic"
The content of the research itself pairs well with the phrase "Friendship is magic," and the article title itself circulates as a "quotable phrase." X (formerly Twitter)

On the other hand, caution about "correlation and causation" is also discussed
There are still hurdles to definitively saying "friendship caused rejuvenation." The research itself also considers whether

• friendship delays aging

• or individuals who age slowly can build friendships

• or if it's a bidirectional feedback
  as future examination topics, and on social media, there's a tendency to "read without rushing to conclusions." Nature
  
  

From "Mood Issue" to "Biology" in Friendship

What makes this study interesting is that it connects friendship not only as "mental nourishment" but also to **cellular indicators (epigenetic age)**.
However, the message we should receive is not "make more friends." Rather, the dolphin results suggest that quality over quantity—"deep and stable relationships" might be more effective than "broad and shallow" ones. Nature

If you're making a checklist for "anti-aging measures," you might want to add a line like this:
"Meet (talk to) important people properly."