Being at the bottom of the social ladder is generally a predictor of bad health: research shows that poor people die sooner and have more disease than rich people, even when you account for factors like lack of access to health care. But the data on social hierarchy and health — including studies in primates other than humans — contains a paradox for males: high status is linked with high levels of testosterone, and high testosterone can in turn lower immunity and increase disease risk. So, why is high rank consistently associated with good health? A new study in baboons sheds new light on the connections. Scientists examined data collected over 27 years in wild baboons living in the Amboseli region of Kenya. The researchers looked specifically at the relationship between illness and injury and rank — that is, whether higher- or lower-ranking males fell ill or were hurt more frequently; scientists also measured how fast the males recovered. (Females were not studied due to complexities related to their reproductive cycles and childbirth.) (MORE: Why American Presidents (and Some Oscar Winners) Live Longer) The researchers saw significant differences, all favoring the higher-ranked animals. In fact, at any particular time, the odds of recovery from sickness or injury for a high-status animal were three times greater than for a male at the bottom. The alpha males at the very top healed faster than all other males. And this outcome occurred even when the high-ranking males had high levels of stress hormones called glucocorticoids, as well as high levels of testosterone, both of which can suppress immunity. Based on their stress and hormone levels, one would expect the males at the top to get sicker and recover from wounds more slowly than their low-on-the-totem-pole peers. In part, the findings can be explained by age: top-ranked males tend to be younger and healthier than lower-ranking animals. Still, age didn’t account for the differences completely. Indeed, high status was a better predictor of healing than age was. The researchers write: [A]lpha and low-ranking males seem … Continue reading Baboon Study Shows Why High Social Status Boosts Health