As we get older, it\u2019s normal for our relationships to shift. Old friendships from childhood or young adulthood may fizzle out. Marriage, careers and children can get in the way.<\/p>\n
While our friend circles may become smaller over time, it\u2019s still possible to make new connections. And doing so may have health benefits, according to a doctor who specializes in treating older adults.<\/p>\n
Social connectedness is often linked to\u00a0longevity<\/a>\u00a0and a lower risk of age-related chronic diseases.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s one type of friendship which can promote healthy aging that can get overlooked.<\/p>\n Longevity tip of the day: Seek out age-gap friendships<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to have intergenerational friendships,\u201d Dr. Stephanie Rogers, a geriatrician and professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, tells TODAY.com.<\/p>\n When we think of making new friends, we often imagine peers of the same age.<\/p>\n However, friendships between people with an age difference\u00a0of 15\u201320 years or more\u00a0can offer surprising benefits on both sides, Rogers says.<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to have friends that are older than you, and friends that are younger than you,\u201d says Rogers.<\/p>\n A survey from AARP<\/a>\u00a0found that nearly 4 in 10 adults in the United States have a close friend who is at least 15 years older or younger than they are.<\/p>\n Why it matters<\/p>\n In older age, making age gap friendships can be challenging \u2014\u00a0but that\u2019s a good thing, says Rogers.<\/p>\n One quality she sees among her\u00a0healthiest geriatric patients<\/a>\u00a0is avoiding too much comfort by constantly switching things up.<\/p>\n Pushing yourself socially and cognitively into older age forces the mind to adapt, Rogers explains.<\/p>\n On a cellular level, it may also slow down biological aging. Overcoming differences in communication or culture, for example, can offer stimulation that helps cells regenerate.<\/p>\n \u201cIt helps with multiple domains that can suffer in aging, the brain and the physical body,\u201d Rogers notes.<\/p>\n For the younger person, intergenerational friendships promote a healthier outlook. \u201cI want people to be more positive about aging,\u201d Rogers adds.<\/p>\n The booming anti-aging industry can make that hard.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a very ageist society. But the truth is … usually our happiness and wellbeing can actually get better as we get older and continue to rise after 40,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cStudies show that people who have a positive view of aging actually age better.\u201d<\/p>\n How to get started<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in making intergenerational friends, Rogers recommends starting out with a common activity or setting which may draw people of different ages:<\/p>\n Community groups<\/p>\n Hobby-based clubs (gardening, crafting or books)<\/p>\n Volunteering<\/p>\n Work<\/p>\n Exercise classes for all age groups, such as aerobics or Tai Chi<\/p>\n Faith-based gatherings<\/p>\n Solo travel groups<\/p>\n If you\u2019re unable to meet someone new, reach out to someone you already know, such as a neighbor.<\/p>\n Sometimes, all it takes is a conversation. Recently, a young woman went viral on TikTok for sharing how a chance encounter on public transit led to an\u00a0unexpected friendship with an 81-year-old<\/a>. Her advice? \u201cTake your AirPods out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI also want you to follow older people on social media,\u201d Rogers adds.<\/p>\n