Family and friends play a vital role in predicting our survival and they can even improve our chances of living by fifty per cent, claims a new study.

The researchers conducted the study by analysing previous data that measured frequency of human interaction.
"The data simply show whether they were integrated in a social network," Holt-Lunstad said.
"When someone is connected to a group and feels responsibility for other people, that sense of purpose and meaning translates to taking better care of themselves and taking fewer risks," Holt-Lunstad added.
The researchers added that the results applied not only to older adults but were true across all age groups.
The study is published the journal PLoS Medicine.
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