Photo by Barbara Alper/Getty Images

Sexual satisfaction may be one of the most overlooked predictors of healthy aging, and new research suggests it plays a far greater role in longevity and emotional well-being than most people realize. In a 2024 analysis published in Sexuality Research and Social Policy, scientists found that sexual fulfillment is strongly linked to how well adults adjust to aging, influencing key markers of vitality, such as purpose, physical self-perception, social support and zest for life.

The study surveyed 619 Portuguese adults aged 18 to 92, and even after accounting for age and relationship status, sexual satisfaction remained a powerful predictor of resilience and life satisfaction.

In a wellness culture flooded with biohacking gadgets, hormone protocols and youth-obsessed routines, this research offers a radical reframing: satisfaction-centered intimacy isn't just optional but vital to human health. It reminds us that pleasure, connection and sexual agency are not just about desire. They're about how we stay alive in our bodies as we grow older, and how we hold on to purpose, vibrancy and........

© Forbes