A study led by Australia’s University of New South Wales (UNSW) has found that male bottlenose dolphins with strong social bonds age more slowly at a cellular level than their more solitary peers. This research marks the first time such an effect has been observed in a non-human species.

• The study analyzed skin tissue samples from 38 bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia.
• The research was conducted by Australia's University of New South Wales (UNSW) with study lead author Livia Gerber.
• The findings suggest that the health benefits of friendship are a fundamental biological principle across social mammals, not unique to humans.