Altruism is Good Medicine
Every few years my husband’s family hosts a large family reunion. These are enormous gatherings of approximately 100 closely and loosely related relatives, and each time we all gather I look around and am astonished by the health and vitality of so many of the member’s of the extended family. The elder contingent — from 80–100 years old — is always well-represented. Not only are these family members active participants in many activities, they seem to have sharp memories, and their presence makes family history and storytelling nights especially meaningful.
So what is the secret ingredient? Certainly genetics are one part of the picture. But I have a theory about what I believe is the main reason this crowd is so vibrant well into old age: they are service-oriented. This is an extended family that collectively values altruism and generosity. They are supportive of each other in their lifelong efforts to do right by family, friends, community and humanity at large, and are often honored by the rest of the family for such efforts. This, I believe, is good for their health, and my intuition-based theory has been backed up by several well-publicized clinical studies — to the extent that many believe doctors should prescribe volunteerism for their patients’ longterm health.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/12/altruism-for-a-better-body/422280/
The woman in the story below, Mary Ellen Graham, who began a very successful program for homeless men when she was in her late sixties, is a case in point. She has served others for most of her life, has never stopped, and embodies both altruism and vitality.
