{"id":7464,"date":"2026-04-02T22:17:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T22:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/themahrtinvestmentgroup\/?p=7464"},"modified":"2026-02-09T22:22:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T22:22:13","slug":"ways-to-live-a-longer-life-the-importance-of-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/themahrtinvestmentgroup\/ways-to-live-a-longer-life-the-importance-of-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"Ways to Live a Longer Life \u2014 The Importance of Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the longest-running study on happiness, the Harvard Study of Adult Development found that social connections are the strongest predictor of happiness and health, which in turn may contribute to greater longevity.1<\/p>\n

Retirement planning is more than a \u201cnumber.\u201d Of course, our role is to support your wealth management so you have the means to live the life you envision in retirement and beyond. Yet often overlooked is how we\u2019ll maintain life satisfaction as we age.<\/p>\n

We live in an era of unprecedented global wealth, yet levels of unhappiness are at record highs. Social disconnection has become such a recognized issue that the UK and Japan have appointed government \u201cMinisters of Loneliness,\u201d and in 2023, the U.S. surgeon general declared loneliness an \u201cepidemic.\u201d2 A recent media headline even suggested that Gen Z may avoid the proverbial \u2018midlife crisis\u2019 not because they are happier, but because unhappiness has become so common much earlier in life.3 In the past, happiness tended to follow a \u201cU-shaped\u201d curve across the lifespan. Today, this may have shifted to an upward-sloping line, with young adults now the least happy and older adults reporting the greatest happiness.<\/p>\n

Why this change is happening may be linked to various factors\u2014the effects of job and housing prospects, the lasting impact of the pandemic, growing wealth inequality and, of course, the rise in social media and smartphones that have created a broader connectivity ecosystem inundating us with negative news and comparative envy.<\/p>\n

This kind of connectivity, however, does not sustain us. A thriving human experience is fuelled by face-to-face interactions, which foster self-expression, creativity, optimism\u2014and ultimately happiness.4 In fact, these interactions can help rewire our brains and change how we perceive the world in a more positive way. Neuroscience shows that in-person interactions engage the brain in beneficial ways that text messages or video calls cannot replicate.5<\/p>\n

Is there any evidence to support this connectivity as a predictor of longevity? One study following nearly 1,500 older adults over a decade found that those with large networks of friends outlived those with fewer friends by more than 20 percent.2 Conversely, social disconnection is linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression, dementia and premature death. One study showed that loneliness increased the risk of early mortality by 26 percent and social isolation by 29 percent.6<\/p>\n

The Longevity Benefits of Giving to Others<\/strong><\/p>\n

Importantly, connectivity is not only about how many physical friends we have, but also about how we engage with others. Those who participate in \u201cprosocial\u201d behaviours\u2014acts intended to help or benefit others\u2014tend to enjoy better health themselves. This can include volunteering or even making a charitable donation. For instance, seniors who spent about 15 hours per week tutoring and mentoring young children experienced measurable improvements in both cognitive and physical health. Volunteering has been linked to longer lifespans.7 Acts of giving can lower blood pressure, reduce stress and even decrease cortisol levels, while boosting feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin.8<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Charitable Giving Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many ways to support charitable causes; some may even offer tax benefits. Here are several options to consider:<\/p>\n