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An interesting question with the partner or pet example for me is whether it's truly "win-win" --- do both "live longer" or one does and the other now lives les
by dualogy 9y ago
An interesting question with the partner or pet example for me is whether it's truly "win-win" --- do both "live longer" or one does and the other now lives less longer, unwittingly =)
- pavel_lishin 9y agoI always assumed that most of the health benefits came from things like increased social interaction, and the simple fact that if you have a heart attack or stroke or a fall, someone's there to dial 911. I imagine that for the social aspect of it, it's only a win/lose if one person gets more stress than joy out of the relationship.
- chiefalchemist 9y agoI think that's the standard interpretation (i.e., human interaction is the lifesaver). However, when you start to drill down on the whole (gut) bacteria thing, I think things change. Sure, emotions also have impact on the immune system, but so do bacteria. Love IS a powerful emotion. As bacteria are as well ;) The irony (?) is gut bacteria have also been linked to mental conditions / emotions. I love you...because your gut told my gut to say that? :)
- chiefalchemist 9y agoTo be clear, the article didn't connect those dots. I did. It did say current indications are gut diversity is a good thing. That such things impact life expectancy. It also said partners / family effect gut diversity, as do pets. I'm sure emotions also play a role (as - e.g., - depression is bad for the immune system). But, best I can extrapolate, the gut also plays a role. But the details science has been done. Yet.