“Love thy neighbor” takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to life expectancy! The importance of maintaining close relationships with your neighbors may just be the key to a healthy life span, according to a recent study from Rutgers University published in Social Science and Medicine.

Researchers studied the death rates of older Chinese Americans who lived alone (a status that has been linked to reduced life expectancy in multiple studies) and found that strong neighborhood connections and social relationships reduced the negative impact of living alone, and even contributed to longevity.

Using data from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, which included the living situation (whether they lived alone or with others) and mortality rates of 3,100 adults aged 60 and older over a 10 year period, researchers found that those who lived alone and reported low interactions and social connections with their neighbors had a 48.5% increased risk of death. Conversely, community dwelling individuals who lived alone but had higher interactions with their neighbors did not have as nearly high of a mortality risk, with no statistically significant differences in all-cause mortality compared to those who lived with others.

The authors of the study stressed the need for community interaction and other social programs to offer additional resources to those that who don’t have a support system in their neighborhoods or communities. “Enhancing neighborhood cohesion may be a promising way to reduce early death for adults who live alone,” stated lead author of the study Yanping Jiang.