Sweating for One Hour Weekly Slows Down Aging Gradually

Volunteering Clearly Slows Aging
Emotional Stability and Psychological Uplift Are Important

A research study revealed that volunteering for even one hour a week can slow down the aging process in the body. In particular, the anti-aging effects of volunteering were found to be stronger than other harmful habits such as obesity, smoking, and drinking, drawing significant attention.

A joint research team from Texas State University, the University of Michigan, and Brown University recently published the results of a study analyzing 2,650 elderly individuals aged 62 and older. The researchers investigated how frequently participants volunteered each year and measured their biological age through DNA methylation analysis.

DNA methylation refers to the attachment of methyl groups to DNA bases. Through DNA methylation, the chemical expression in our bodies can change. Tracking the degree of DNA methylation is useful for evaluating biological changes such as stress levels and the degree of aging, making it one of the epigenetic markers used in research.

Volunteers and Republic of Korea Armed Forces soldiers assisting in road restoration during the 2022 flood disaster in the central region. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The analysis showed that participants who volunteered for about 1 to 4 hours per week had slower biological aging compared to those who did not volunteer at all. Notably, even volunteering for just one hour a week showed an anti-aging effect. Furthermore, volunteering for more than four hours per week resulted in the greatest reduction in the acceleration of aging. The anti-aging effects of volunteering remained significant even after accounting for other aging variables such as △frequency of physical activity △smoking and drinking △obesity.

So why does volunteering slow down human aging? The research team interpreted that the physical, social, and psychological benefits caused by volunteering have a combined positive effect on the body.

Volunteering includes physical activities such as walking, which helps maintain physical health. Additionally, volunteering increases social interactions, reducing stress and improving cognitive function. Living in isolation without interacting with others reduces conversation time and emotional connectivity, which leads to a decline in cognitive abilities.

In this regard, Dr. Gary Small, a psychiatrist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, emphasized, "Emotional connections with others have the effect of extending life expectancy." Moreover, volunteering provides a sense of purpose that improves mental health and helps lessen feelings of loss when aging individuals lose important people in their lives, such as spouses or parents.

Dr. Small explained, "Volunteering gives us psychological uplift," adding, "It also gives individuals the feeling that they are participating in making the world a better place."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.