When I look at life expectancies (because I’m a nerd who does this from time to time), I like to think of them as a big family picture. I mean just look at us and how well we’re doing! Early American life was filled with disease, disconnection, and a lot, and I mean a lot of children dying before reaching the age of 2. This helps to explain how I’ve somehow outlived the average colonial American, having just reached 40 years. (You know, they’re saying 40 is the new 30, but I just started saying things like, “You know, they’re saying …”, so it’s probably not.)
Though we are in the midst of a measles outbreak, I am a bit surprised we still doubt the utility of vaccines (look at that Spanish Flu dip!). It’s no surprise, though, that the lowest recorded life expectancy in U.S. history was during the Civil War. We were our own enemy. A brutal, drawn-out conflict, widespread disease, and the absence of modern medicine made survival a tall order. But today, despite medical advances, we’re facing another life expectancy crisis—one driven not by war, but by isolation.
Which brings me to a meme I recently saw that suggested a correlation between saxophone solos and birth rates. As sax solos have declined, so has human connection. Absurd? Maybe. But it highlights something real—the power of music, social interaction, and shared spaces in shaping our well-being.
The Life and Death Consequences of Social Isolation
We’ve long known that where you live affects how long you live. A recent study in Public Health Reports validated the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) at the ZIP code level, showing that social determinants—things like economic stability, housing, and access to community resources—directly impact health outcomes.¹ But beyond physical location, social connection itself plays a critical role.
A landmark meta-analysis found that lacking social connections increases the risk of premature death by 50%, a mortality impact comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.² Meanwhile, social isolation is linked to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and mental health disorders.³ I love the suggestion by my friend and colleague, Dr. Katherine Meese, author of The Human Margin, when she jokes, that if you’re feeling lonely it might actually be better for you to grab a friend and smoke 14 cigarettes together than it is to stay isolated.
We found profound negative impacts of social isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic in our study on hospital visitation policies and their influence on patient experience and patient safety outcomes.4 It turns out the isolation was not only bad for patients, but also for our care delivery. Visitors make us better care takers, particularly in hospital settings. This reinforces the notion that human connection is essential for both emotional well-being and physical healing. In light of these findings, healthcare institutions must reevaluate visitation policies to prioritize patient-centered care that recognizes the importance of social support in the healing process.
In short: We’re social creatures, and when we lose connection, we lose years off our lives.
From Third Spaces to Algorithmic Echo Chambers
Historically, we built connection through third spaces—those community gathering places outside of home and work, like coffee shops, bars, churches, and yes, even jazz clubs with legendary sax solos. But these spaces have dwindled. The pandemic accelerated their decline, and the rise of digital interactions has, paradoxically, left us more alone than ever. Social media, once promising connection, has instead created algorithmic echo chambers that reinforce division rather than community.
Instead of moving together to the rhythms of live music, conversation, or shared experience, we’re now more likely to be swayed by the rhythm of our social media feeds.
So, What’s the Fix?
I’m not saying the answer is to listen to Careless Whisper on repeat (but if you do, at least invite some friends over). What I am saying is that we must intentionally rebuild social connection—not just for personal well-being, but as a public health priority.
- Invest in Third Spaces: We need to rethink how we design communities, ensuring that gathering places remain accessible, inclusive, and vibrant.
- Encourage In-Person Connection: Whether it’s community events, music, or simply making time for coffee with a friend, small moments of real-world interaction matter.
- Acknowledge Social Isolation as a Health Risk: Public health efforts should address isolation with the same urgency as smoking, obesity, and chronic disease.
Life expectancy isn’t just about medicine—it’s about music, conversation, and shared human experience. If we want to reverse the trend, we have to do more than just treat illness. We have to bring people together.
Oh, and for what it’s worth—I made a Spotify playlist. (More Sax) Think of it as a small social lubricant on our collective behalf. (Okay, I’m done with the saxual innuendos.)
References:
- Social Vulnerability Index at the ZIP Code Level: Validation and Implications for Public Health. (2024). Public Health Reports. Link
- 2. Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., & Layton, J. B. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review. PLOS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316. Link
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2020). Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Link
- Silvera GA, Wolf JA, Stanowski A, Studer Q. The influence of COVID-19 visitation restrictions on patient experience and safety outcomes: A critical role for subjective advocates. Patient Experience Journal. 2021; 8(1):30-39. doi: 10.35680/2372-0247.1596. Link
Geoffrey Silvera, PhD MHA 