Associations of social network size and perceived level of social support with age acceleration estimated by a proteomic aging clock: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Background: We examined the associations of social network size and social support with biological age acceleration using a protein-based aging clock.

Methods: A total of 11,719 participants (mean age 57.1±5.7 years; 55.6% female) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study Visit 2 (1990-1992) were included. Biological age was calculated using a proteomic aging clock (PAC), and age acceleration was defined as the residuals after regressing the PAC on chronological age. The associations of self-reported social network size and level of support with standardized mean age acceleration were examined using multivariable linear regression.

Results: Size of social networks and level of support were inversely associated with age acceleration. The age accelerations of small, medium, and large social networks were 0.24, 0.08, and -0.05 (p for trend = 0.003), while for low, moderate and high levels of support the age accelerations were 0.33, 0.19, and -0.06 (p for trend < 0.0001), respectively. Associations were modestly attenuated after adjusting for social and lifestyle factors.

Discussion: Findings of the benefit of social networks and support to biological aging processes provide evidence of potential physiological underpinnings of social interactions on health outcomes.