Maybe it's all of that talking, but Carnegie Mellon University scientists say seniors who engage in active social lives have better lung function, which naturally tends to decline with age.

The study, published in Health Psychology, suggests a variety of social behaviors can confer health benefits. "We knew that when older adults have friends and family, and belong to groups, they have lower mortality rates, and less disease and illness risk, but now we can start to understand why that happens," said psychology professor Sheldon Cohen.

Marriage remains the strongest social role linked to improved health and lung function in the elderly, but researchers found that simply remaining connected to friends and family, even if unmarried, produces benefits.

"Older people need to get out, because any sort of social interaction will improve their health," said Crista Crittenden, the study's lead author.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

Unlike other muscles, the heart muscle contracts without stimulus from the nervous system. Signals for the heart to beat come from the sinoatrial node near the top of the right atrium.

GET ME THAT. STAT!

According to NationMaster, a statistics aggregator, the United States has the most privately owned small firearms per 100 residents at 88.8, followed by Serbia (58.2) and Yemen (54.8). The fewest firearms per 100 residents among the 170 countries surveyed was Tunisia at 0.1.

NUMBER CRUNCHER

A single serving of Papa John's chicken poppers (135 grams) contains 169 calories, 30 from fat. It has 3.4 grams of total fat, or 5 percent of the recommended total fat intake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet, according to the CalorieCount.com database.

It also contains 84 milligrams of cholesterol (28 percent); 574 milligrams of sodium (24 percent); 3.4 grams of total carbohydrates (1 percent); and 30.4 g of protein.

STORIES FOR THE WAITING ROOM

An English study suggests that using marijuana affects the size and shape of sperm in young men, perhaps putting their fertility at risk. The study also found that sperm size and shape was worse in samples taken during summer months, but better in men who had abstained from sexual activity for more than six days.

MANIA OF THE WEEK

Habromania — a form of insanity characterized by delusions of a pleasing nature

NEVER SAY DIET

The Major League Eating speed-eating record for deep-fried calamari is 6.625 pounds in 10 minutes, held by Patrick Bertoletti. Warning: Most of these records are held by professional eaters; the rest by people who really should find something better to do.

BEST MEDICINE

Patient: "I just heard a great joke about amnesiacs."

Doctor: "What is it?"

Patient: "I forget."

Doctor: "That happens."

Patient: "What happens?"

Doctor: "You forget things?"

Patient: "Who are you?"

OBSERVATION

"You'll be surprised how infinitely merciful they (these tablets) are. The prescription number is 96814. I think of it as the telephone number of God!" — American playwright Tennessee Williams (1911-1983)

CURTAIN CALLS

In 1980, 70-year-old Monica Meyers, the major of Betterton, Maryland, died while inspecting open tanks at a sewage treatment facility. She slipped on catwalk and fell into a 25-foot-deep tank, drowning.

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.