The power of cumulative social advantage

The power of cumulative social advantage

Happy almost-Valentine's Day! And more importantly, happy Galentine's Day to those of you celebrating with your ride-or-dies this week.

I want to talk about something that might surprise you, coming from a doctor who would very much like you to buy her pretty supplements… 

The most powerful longevity intervention I know of isn't in your HOP Box.

It's in your people.

Cumulative social advantage (yes, that’s a real thing)

A study published this fall from Cornell University stopped me in my tracks. Researchers followed over 2,100 adults and measured something they called "cumulative social advantage."

I love this term. It's basically the depth and consistency of your relationships across your entire life. Not just whether you have friends right now, but whether you've built and maintained meaningful connections over time.

Here's what they found: people with higher cumulative social advantage literally age more slowly at the cellular level.

We're not talking about feeling younger. We're talking about biological age, measured by something called epigenetic clocks. These track DNA methylation patterns to determine how fast your body is actually aging.

The people with strong, sustained social ties? Their biological clocks were running slower than their chronological age. They also had lower levels of interleukin-6, a pro-inflammatory molecule linked to heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.

In other words: your girlfriends are keeping your cells young.  

The retirement account analogy

Here's the part that really got me. Lead researcher Dr. Anthony Ong put it this way:

"Think of social connections like a retirement account. The earlier you start investing and the more consistently you contribute, the greater your returns. Our study shows those returns aren't just emotional; they're biological."

The researchers looked at four key areas that contribute to cumulative social advantage:

  • The warmth and support you received from your parents growing up
  • How connected you feel to your community and neighborhood
  • Involvement in religious or faith-based communities
  • Ongoing emotional support from friends and family

It's not just about having friends today. It's about how your social connections have grown and deepened throughout your life. That accumulation shapes your health trajectory in measurable ways.

Why this matters for midlife women

Let's be honest: midlife can be isolating. Kids leave. Careers get demanding. Friendships that used to happen organically now require actual scheduling. Sometimes it feels easier to just stay home with Netflix and your HOP Box.

But this research is a wake-up call. Social isolation doesn't just make us lonely. It may actually accelerate aging at the molecular level.

The flip side? Every brunch, every walk with a friend, every text thread that makes you laugh. These aren't luxuries. They're longevity interventions. They're deposits into your cumulative social advantage account.

The ingredient we can’t put in a pill

I've said this before and I'll keep saying it: I formulated HOP Box to address cellular aging from the inside out. Our ingredients support autophagy, reduce inflammation, protect DNA, optimize energy.

But here's what I can't bottle:

  • The way your best friend makes you belly laugh
  • The neighbor who checks in when you've been quiet
  • The group chat that gets you through hard weeks
  • The coffee date that turns into a three-hour cathartic vent sesh

Those things reduce inflammation, too. They regulate your stress response. They quite literally slow down your biological clock.

HOP Box supports your cells. Your people support your soul. You need both.

Your Galentine's Day challenge

This week, I want you to do something radical: prioritize connection like it's a supplement.

The HOP Social Rx:

  • 📱 Text one friend you've been meaning to reach out to 
  • ☕ Schedule one in-person hangout (put it on the calendar!)
  • 💕 Tell someone what they mean to you 

Because aging well means both staying healthy AND staying connected. They're inseparable.

Happy Valentine’s/Galentine's Day! Now go call your people.

And take your HOP Box. 😉

HOP to it!

Dr. Amy Killen & the HOP Team

References

Cumulative social advantage is associated with slower epigenetic aging and lower systemic inflammation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101096

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