Older people who take part in social and religious activities such as going to church could reduce or even reverse signs of frailty, according to new research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Researchers from Newcastle University found that people over 70 who became more socially active were up to 79 per cent more likely to regain physical strength and resilience.

The study was part-funded by the British Heart Foundation.

Paul Crowther, the churches coordinator at Embracing Age, told Premier Christian News that the findings reflected what churches are already seeing in their communities. “We weren’t surprised at all given what we see on the ground” he said, adding that the NHS links loneliness in later life to “the equivalent of smoking about 15 to 20 cigarettes every day”.

Professor Sheena Ramsay and director of Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health at Newcastle University, said the research showed that “frailty is not inevitable” and that “becoming more socially active could be one of the factors” that can help with recovery in early stages.

Crowther said the findings should act as “a call to arms for Christians and the Church”, encouraging believers to support older people who are isolated or lonely.

He added that “the foundation of our faith is all about relationships”, and urged older listeners to “make socialising a priority”, whether through church groups or community activities.

He also called on churches to visit care homes and those unable to attend services, saying this could “make a real difference to people’s health and wellbeing”.