A growing body of research suggests that, like humans, animals also adjust their social behaviors as they age.
A special issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B recently published 16 studies exploring this topic, with six led by the University of Leeds.
The studies reveal how social patterns shift as animals grow older, providing insights into the potential biological and social benefits of these changes.
One of the studies focused on red deer on Scotland's Isle of Rum, particularly on the behavior of older female deer, or does. As the deer age, they interact less with their peers. This reduction in socialization may help them avoid competition and reduce their risk of parasite infection.
Josh Firth from the University of Leeds, one of the editors of this special issue, highlighted that such behavior may be widespread across species, as it allows individuals to avoid health risks associated with social interactions.
"These kinds of effects might be expected across societies, where individuals might avoid social interactions as they become more vulnerable to the costs of infection," Firth explained.
The shift in behavior among aging deer has parallels in human behavior, especially seen during the COVID-19 pandemic when many older adults limited their social activities to avoid exposure to illness.
Another notable study investigated how aging impacts social behavior in house sparrows. Research led by Julia Schroeder at Imperial College London found that older sparrows tend to shrink their social circles.
According to Schroeder, understanding the dynamics of these aging friendships may shed light on how social patterns evolve among birds and even offer insights into similar behaviors in other species.
These studies extend to insects as well. Professor Amanda Bretman's work with Drosophila fruit flies showed that social environments impact aging even in simpler animals.
The research underscores that the social environment can vary by gender, timing, and social structure. By looking at how even insects adapt their behavior based on social context, scientists hope to reveal fundamental patterns that apply across species.
Looking forward, researchers intend to explore the intricacies of social aging further. The breadth of these studies highlights that changing social behaviors with age is a general phenomenon across species.