PLAYING bingo helps people live longer, a study suggests.
The excitement of the game and mixing with others adds to a healthy social life, which cuts the risk of frailty in older people.
Those with the most active social lives were significantly less likely to be frail and at risk of illness, injury or early death, with bingo scoring as one of the highest social boosts.
Card games, trips away, meals out, visiting family and friends and volunteering also helped to prevent doctor’s orders, according to the research, funded by the British Heart Foundation.
The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, also found it was never too late to start.
Participants were 79 per cent more likely to get stronger and reverse frailty by becoming more socially active.
Researchers used records from 1,971 middle-aged and older people in the UK and US.
For every one point higher a person scored on their social life, their risk of frailty reduced by 31 to 44 per cent.
About one in 10 over-65s and one in four over-85s are classed as frail, making them less able to fend off or bounce back from illness.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director of the British Heart Foundation, said: “This study adds to growing evidence that social activities are good for our health, while loneliness and isolation can be detrimental.
“Trying new group activities like volunteering may help people keep living well for longer.”
