(ROOT (S (S (NP (JJ Many) (NNS people)) (VP (VBP turn) (PP (IN to) (NP (NP (NNS doctors)) (CC or) (NP (JJ self-help) (NNS books)))))) (, ,) (CC but) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP ignore) (NP (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ powerful) (NN thing)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (MD could) (VP (VB help) (S (NP (PRP them)) (VP (VB fight) (NP (NN illness))))))))) (: :) (NP (PRP$ their) (NNS friends))))) (. .)))
Many people turn to doctors or self-help books, but they ignore a powerful thing that could help them fight illness: their friends.
amod
Degree=Pos
many
Many
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
turn
turn
VERB
VBP
case
to
to
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
doctor
doctors
NOUN
NNS
cc
or
or
CCONJ
CC
amod
Degree=Pos
self-help
self-help
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Plur
book
books
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
ignore
ignore
VERB
VBP
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
powerful
powerful
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
thing
thing
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
aux
VerbForm=Fin
could
could
AUX
MD
acl:relcl
VerbForm=Inf
help
help
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
them
PRON
PRP
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
fight
fight
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing
illness
illness
NOUN
NN
punct
:
:
PUNCT
:
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
appos
Number=Plur
friend
friends
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Researchers)) (VP (VBP are) (ADVP (RB only) (RB now)) (VP (VBG starting) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB pay) (NP (NN attention)) (PP (IN to) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN importance)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NN friendship)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NN health)))))))))))) (. .)))
Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship in health.
nsubj
Number=Plur
researcher
Researchers
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
advmod
only
only
ADV
RB
advmod
now
now
ADV
RB
root
Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part
start
starting
VERB
VBG
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
pay
pay
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing
attention
attention
NOUN
NN
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
importance
importance
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
friendship
friendship
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
health
health
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT A) (JJ 10-year) (JJ Australian) (NN study)) (VP (VBD found) (NP (NP (IN that) (JJ old) (NNS People)) (PP (IN with) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ large) (NN circle)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS friends))))))) (. .)))
A 10-year Australian study found that old People with a large circle of friends.
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
A
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
10-year
10-year
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
Australian
Australian
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
study
study
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
find
found
VERB
VBD
det
that
that
SCONJ
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
old
old
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Plur
person
People
NOUN
NNS
case
with
with
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
large
large
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
circle
circle
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
friend
friends
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT A) (JJ large) (CD 2007) (NN study)) (VP (VBD showed) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN increase)) (PP (IN of) (NP (QP (RB nearly) (CD 60)) (NN percent))) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN risk)) (PP (IN for) (NP (NN obesity))) (PP (IN among) (NP (NP (NNS people)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP$ whose) (NNS friends)) (S (VP (VBD gained) (NP (NN weight))))))))))) (. .)))
A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk for obesity among people whose friends gained weight.
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
A
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
large
large
ADJ
JJ
compound
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
2007
2007
NUM
CD
nsubj
Number=Sing
study
study
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
show
showed
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
increase
increase
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
advmod
nearly
nearly
ADV
RB
nummod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
60
60
NUM
CD
nmod
Number=Sing
percent
percent
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
risk
risk
NOUN
NN
case
for
for
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
obesity
obesity
NOUN
NN
case
among
among
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
nmod:poss
Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel
whose
whose
PRON
WP$
nsubj
Number=Plur
friend
friends
NOUN
NNS
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
gain
gained
VERB
VBD
obj
Number=Sing
weight
weight
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (CC And) (NP (JJ last) (NN year)) (, ,) (NP (NNP Harvard) (NNS researchers)) (VP (VBD reported) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (JJ strong) (JJ social) (NNS ties)) (VP (MD could) (VP (VB improve) (NP (NN brain) (NN health)) (SBAR (IN as) (S (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP age))))))))) (. .)))
And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could improve brain health as we age.
cc
and
And
CCONJ
CC
amod
Degree=Pos
last
last
ADJ
JJ
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
year
year
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
compound
Number=Sing
Harvard
Harvard
PROPN
NNP
nsubj
Number=Plur
researcher
researchers
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
report
reported
VERB
VBD
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
strong
strong
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
social
social
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
tie
ties
NOUN
NNS
aux
VerbForm=Fin
could
could
AUX
MD
ccomp
VerbForm=Inf
improve
improve
VERB
VB
compound
Number=Sing
brain
brain
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Sing
health
health
NOUN
NN
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
age
age
VERB
VBP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (SINV (`` ``) (S (PP (IN In) (ADJP (JJ general))) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN role)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NN friendship)) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP$ our) (NNS lives)))))) (VP (VBZ isn) ('' ’) (VBZ t) (ADVP (RB well)) (VP (VBN realized)))) (, ,) ('' '') (VP (VBD said)) (NP (NP (NNP Rebecca)) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN professor)) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNP University)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNP North) (NNP Carolina))))))) (. .)))
"In general, the role of friendship in our lives isn ’ t well realized," said Rebecca, a professor at the University of North Carolina.
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
case
in
In
ADP
IN
obl
Degree=Pos
general
general
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing
role
role
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
friendship
friendship
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
nmod
Number=Plur
life
lives
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
isn
isn
AUX
VBZ
punct
'
’
PUNCT
''
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
t
t
AUX
VBZ
advmod
Degree=Pos
well
well
ADV
RB
ccomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
realize
realized
VERB
VBN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
say
said
VERB
VBD
nsubj
Number=Sing
Rebecca
Rebecca
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
appos
Number=Sing
professor
professor
NOUN
NN
case
at
at
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
University
University
PROPN
NNP
case
of
of
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
North
North
PROPN
NNP
nmod
Number=Sing
Carolina
Carolina
PROPN
NNP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (`` ``) (NP (NNP Friendship)) (VP (VBZ has) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJR bigger) (NN effect)) (PP (IN on) (NP (PRP$ our) (JJ psychological) (NN health))) (PP (IN than) (NP (NN family) (NNS relationships))))) (. .) ('' '')))
"Friendship has a bigger effect on our psychological health than family relationships."
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Number=Sing
friendship
Friendship
PROPN
NNP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Cmp
big
bigger
ADJ
JJR
obj
Number=Sing
effect
effect
NOUN
NN
case
on
on
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
psychological
psychological
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
health
health
NOUN
NN
case
than
than
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
family
family
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Plur
relationship
relationships
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (SBAR (IN While) (S (NP (JJ many) (NN friendship) (NNS studies)) (VP (VBP are) (PP (IN about) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ close) (NNS relationships)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS women)))))))) (, ,) (NP (DT some) (NN research)) (VP (VBZ shows) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB do) (ADVP (JJ good)) (PP (IN to) (NP (NNS men))) (ADVP (RB too))))))) (. .)))
While many friendship studies are about the close relationships of women, some research shows that it can do good to men too.
mark
while
While
SCONJ
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
many
many
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
friendship
friendship
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Number=Plur
study
studies
NOUN
NNS
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
case
about
about
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
close
close
ADJ
JJ
advcl
Number=Plur
relationship
relationships
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
woman
women
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
some
some
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
research
research
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
show
shows
VERB
VBZ
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
ccomp
VerbForm=Inf
do
do
VERB
VB
xcomp
Degree=Pos
good
good
ADJ
JJ
case
to
to
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
man
men
NOUN
NNS
advmod
too
too
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN In) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ six-year) (NN study)) (PP (IN of) (NP (CD 736) (JJ middle-aged) (NNS men))))) (, ,) (S (VP (VBG having) (NP (NNS friendships)))) (VP (VBZ reduces) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN risk)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN heart) (NN attack))))) (. .)))
In a six-year study of 736 middle-aged men, having friendships reduces the risk of heart attack.
case
in
In
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
six-year
six-year
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
study
study
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nummod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
736
736
NUM
CD
amod
Degree=Pos
middle-aged
middle-aged
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
man
men
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
csubj
VerbForm=Ger
have
having
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Plur
friendship
friendships
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
reduce
reduces
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
risk
risk
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
heart
heart
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Sing
attack
attack
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (RB Only) (NN smoking)) (VP (VBD was) (NP (NP (ADJP (RB as) (JJ important)) (DT a) (NN risk) (NN factor)) (PP (IN as) (S (VP (VBG having) (NP (JJ little) (JJ social) (NN support))))))) (. .)))
Only smoking was as important a risk factor as having little social support.
advmod
only
Only
ADV
RB
nsubj
Number=Sing
smoking
smoking
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
advmod
as
as
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
important
important
ADJ
JJ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
risk
risk
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Sing
factor
factor
NOUN
NN
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
have
having
VERB
VBG
amod
Degree=Pos
little
little
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
social
social
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
support
support
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (SBAR (WHADVP (RB Exactly) (WRB why)) (S (NP (NN friendship)) (VP (VBZ has) (NP (PDT such) (DT a) (JJ big) (NN effect))))) (VP (VBZ is) (RB n't) (ADJP (RB entirely) (JJ clear))) (. .)))
Exactly why friendship has such a big effect isn't entirely clear.
advmod
exactly
Exactly
ADV
RB
advmod
PronType=Int
why
why
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Number=Sing
friendship
friendship
NOUN
NN
csubj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
VERB
VBZ
det:predet
such
such
DET
PDT
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
big
big
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
effect
effect
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
advmod
entirely
entirely
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
clear
clear
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (SBAR (IN While) (S (NP (NNS friends)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VP (VB send) (NP (DT a) (JJ sick) (NN person)) (PP (IN to) (NP (DT the) (NN hospital)))) (CC or) (VP (VB pick) (PRT (RP up)) (NP (NN medicine))))))) (, ,) (NP (DT the) (NNS advantages)) (VP (VBP go) (PP (ADVP (RB well)) (IN beyond) (NP (JJ physical) (NN help)))) (. .)))
While friends can send a sick person to the hospital or pick up medicine, the advantages go well beyond physical help.
mark
while
While
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Plur
friend
friends
NOUN
NNS
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
send
send
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
sick
sick
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
person
person
NOUN
NN
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
hospital
hospital
NOUN
NN
cc
or
or
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Inf
pick
pick
VERB
VB
compound:prt
up
up
ADP
RP
obj
Number=Sing
medicine
medicine
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
advantage
advantages
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
go
go
VERB
VBP
advmod
Degree=Pos
well
well
ADV
RB
case
beyond
beyond
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
physical
physical
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
help
help
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NN Friendship)) (ADVP (RB clearly)) (VP (VBZ has) (NP (DT a) (JJ big) (JJ psychological) (NN effect))) (. .)))
Friendship clearly has a big psychological effect.
nsubj
Number=Sing
friendship
Friendship
NOUN
NN
advmod
clearly
clearly
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
big
big
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
psychological
psychological
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
effect
effect
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (SINV (`` ``) (S (NP (NP (NNS People)) (PP (IN with) (NP (JJR stronger) (NNS friendships)))) (VP (VBP feel) (SBAR (IN like) (S (NP (EX there)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (NN someone)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB turn) (PP (IN to)))))))))))) (, ,) ('' '') (VP (VBD said)) (NP (NP (NNP Karen)) (, ,) (NP (DT a) (NN doctor))) (. .)))
"People with stronger friendships feel like there is someone they can turn to," said Karen, a doctor.
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Number=Plur
person
People
NOUN
NNS
case
with
with
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Cmp
strong
stronger
ADJ
JJR
nmod
Number=Plur
friendship
friendships
NOUN
NNS
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
feel
feel
VERB
VBP
mark
like
like
SCONJ
IN
expl
there
there
PRON
EX
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
VERB
VBZ
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Ind
someone
someone
PRON
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
acl:relcl
VerbForm=Inf
turn
turn
VERB
VB
obl
to
to
ADP
IN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
say
said
VERB
VBD
nsubj
Number=Sing
Karen
Karen
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
appos
Number=Sing
doctor
doctor
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (`` ``) (NP (NP (DT The) (NN message)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT these) (NNS studies)))) (VP (VBZ is) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NNS friends)) (VP (VBP make) (S (NP (PRP$ your) (NN life)) (ADJP (JJR better))))))) (. .) ('' '')))
"The message of these studies is that friends make your life better."
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj:outer
Number=Sing
message
message
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Number=Plur|PronType=Dem
this
these
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Plur
study
studies
NOUN
NNS
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Plur
friend
friends
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
make
make
VERB
VBP
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
your
your
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Sing
life
life
NOUN
NN
xcomp
Degree=Cmp
good
better
ADJ
JJR
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
Many people turn to doctors or self-help books, but they ignore a powerful thing that could help them fight illness: their friends.  Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship in health. A 10-year Australian study found that old People with a large circle of friends. A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk for obesity among people whose friends gained weight. And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could improve brain health as we age.  "In general, the role of friendship in our lives isn ’ t well realized," said Rebecca, a professor at the University of North Carolina. "Friendship has a bigger effect on our psychological health than family relationships."  While many friendship studies are about the close relationships of women, some research shows that it can do good to men too. In a six-year study of 736 middle-aged men, having friendships reduces the risk of heart attack. Only smoking was as important a risk factor as having little social support.  Exactly why friendship has such a big effect isn't entirely clear. While friends can send a sick person to the hospital or pick up medicine, the advantages go well beyond physical help. Friendship clearly has a big psychological effect. "People with stronger friendships feel like there is someone they can turn to," said Karen, a doctor. "The message of these studies is that friends make your life better."