Do people become less sociable with age? Not me – I’ve barely stopped since turning 90 | Sheila Hancock

Some researchers have come up with a theory that animals become less sociable as they age.

They found that creatures from house sparrows to rhesus macaques have smaller social circles as they get older and that an antisocial old age might just be an advantage in humans as well as animals.

I think a decline in sociability is a general societal trend, rather than having anything to do with ageing.

Sixty has lately been a frightening landmark for some of my daughters’ generation.

I didn’t even notice my birthdays until my 90th in 2022 took me by surprise.

We did have a party, at which the number of my contemporaries was low.

But the event has propelled me into being more sociable, and having lots of small gatherings of people from my wide friendship spectrum.