If you have ever felt the benefit of a loved one's warm embrace when you are feeling stressed or sad, it might not surprise you that strong relationships can do wonders for your wellbeing.
如果你曾经在感到压力或悲伤时感受到所爱之人温暖拥抱的好处，那么强大的人际关系能为你的健康带来奇迹可能不会让你感到惊讶。
Research over the years has shown that people with strong social ties tend to be healthier.
多年来的研究表明，拥有强大社会联系的人往往更健康。
But a 2025 study, published in Brain, Behaviour and Immunity, now suggests that it could also slow down the ageing process.
但2025年发表在《大脑、行为与免疫》杂志上的一项研究现在表明，它也可能减缓衰老过程。
Researchers in the United States came up with a measure called 'cumulative social advantage'.
美国的研究人员提出了一种称为“累积社会优势”的衡量标准。
This measure takes into account the benefits of maintaining strong and supportive relationships over time, rather than just newer relationships.
这一标准考虑了长期维持强大和支持性关系的好处，而不仅仅是新关系。
They looked at things like support from parents growing up, participation in the community, and ongoing support from friends and family.
他们考察了成长过程中父母的支持、社区参与以及朋友和家人的持续支持等因素。
People who had these things were more likely to have a younger biological age and less inflammation in the body.
拥有这些因素的人更可能拥有更年轻的生理年龄和更少的身体炎症。
Co-author of the study, Anthony Ong, says, "Think of social connections like a retirement account."
该研究的合著者安东尼·翁说：“把社会联系想象成一个退休账户。”
He adds, "The earlier you start investing and the more consistently you contribute, the greater your returns."
他补充道：“你开始投资越早，贡献越持续，回报就越大。”
So, how are friendships so powerful?
那么，友谊为何如此强大？
Humans have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years as social beings – we are wired for connection.
人类作为社会性生物已经进化了数十万年——我们天生就渴望联系。
For our ancestors, being part of a group was not just about having company.
对我们的祖先来说，成为群体的一部分不仅仅是为了有伴。
It kept us safe and made it easier to find and share food and raise offspring.
它让我们安全，并更容易寻找和分享食物以及抚养后代。
And it now appears that these connections affect our bodies on a biological and cellular level.
而现在看来，这些联系在生物和细胞层面影响着我们的身体。
"While it is always good to make new friends, there is often a greater sense of trust and dependability with people you have known for a longer time," says Hillary Ammon, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Anxiety and Women's Emotional Wellness.
“虽然结交新朋友总是好的，但与你认识时间更长的人在一起往往有更强的信任感和可靠性，”焦虑与女性情感健康中心的临床心理学家希拉里·阿蒙说。
Of course, maintaining relationships as we get older can be difficult as people closest to us move away or prioritise other things.
当然，随着年龄增长，维持关系可能会变得困难，因为我们最亲近的人搬走或优先考虑其他事情。
Hillary says not to worry if your friends are newer, as connection is what really matters.
希拉里说，如果你的朋友是新的，不要担心，因为联系才是真正重要的。
A strong network of friends not only adds years to your life, it adds life to your years.
一个强大的朋友网络不仅为你的生活增添岁月，还为你的岁月增添生机。
