Just like humans, many animals become less social as they grow older. But unlike people, this change can actually help them, say scientists.

🧠 New research from Dr. Josh Firth at the University of Leeds shows that animals from deer and chimpanzees to birds and even insects naturally withdraw from social groups with age. The findings, published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, suggest this pattern is widespread across the animal kingdom.

“There is a very general pattern of individuals becoming less social with age,” Dr. Firth told The Guardian.

For animals, social isolation in later life might offer protection. One major reason is disease prevention.

🦌 Red Deer Show How Isolation Helps

In a red deer study, older deer who spent less time in the herd were less likely to get infected by parasitic worms.

“You’re more likely to get infected by these nematodes as you grow older, but you can offset that by not interacting with as many individuals,” Firth said.

🐦 Older Sparrows Lose Social Ties

House sparrows also become less social over time. Dr. Jamie Dunning observed that older birds had fewer connections and were less central in their social networks.

“Like people, it’s harder for them to make friends with younger members they just have less in common,” he added.

Still, younger birds benefit from socializing early. It helps them gain experience that becomes useful in old age.

🐝 Even Insects Show This Behavior

Lead researcher Amanda Bretman said insects also show age-related social changes.

“Even insects, which we don’t think of as social, are affected by their environment,” she explained. “It impacts their lifespan and aging.”

🧬 Why This Matters

These findings may help scientists better understand aging in animals and in humans. For people, staying social is often encouraged. But in the wild, older animals may benefit from being alone.

As Firth noted, animals are “a good model for studying the pros and cons of changing social behavior with