Female monkeys prioritise friends and ‘actively reduce’ social circle as they age, study finds

It may be safer to stick with existing friends to minimise conflict and reduce disease transmission

Rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago (Erin Siracusa)

Female rhesus monkeys prioritise friends and family as they get older and “actively reduce” their social networks, according to a new study.

The findings, published in the journal PNAS, also suggest that the older females aren’t shunned in their later lives, but that their social circle changes are driven by themselves.

Having fewer friends in old age is seen as harmful, including among humans, due to concerns about social isolation and loneliness in the elderly.