By Ailsa Welch, University of East Anglia and Richard Hayhoe, University of East Anglia As we get older, our skeletal muscle mass, strength and power to move gradually decline, which may lead to a condition called sarcopenia. Sarcopenia affects more than 50 million people over…
By Taibat Ibitoye, University of Reading Plant-based diets continue to grow in popularity, worldwide. There are plenty of reasons people switch to a plant-based diet, including ethical and environmental reasons. However, a growing number of people are shunning meat for health reasons. Evidence shows that…
By Ziggi Ivan Santini, University of Southern Denmark; Paul E. Jose, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, and Vibeke Jenny Koushede, University of Copenhagen No one is immune to developing chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer or arthritis as they get older….
While young people often want to look a little older to garner respect, by the time we hit our late twenties, most people are ready to start looking a little younger again. That’s because everyday stresses wear on us – excessive sun exposure, pollution, and…
By Charalampos (Babis) Rallis, University of Essex Humans are living longer than ever before. But alongside these increases in life expectancy are an increase in the occurrence of age-related diseases such as cancer and dementia. But understanding the biology of ageing, and knowing the genes…
Humans have always been hooked to the idea of staying young, because it is this part of life that brings a vibrant experience, making life engaging and vibrant. It comes as no surprise that most fantasy stories describe the exploration of the fountain of youth-…
By John Vibes A 101-year-old COVID-19 coronavirus patient in Italy was discharged from the hospital this week. Surviving this illness at his age is quite an accomplishment, but this is not his first pandemic. The patient, who the hospital identified only as “Mr. P” was…
By Mayukh Saha When one door closes, several others open up. Joan MacDonald, a septuagenarian from Ontario knows all about it. She believes that age is no impediment to how you live your life. Just because you are old doesn’t mean that you have to…
A study using neuroimaging led by Stony Brook University professor and lead author Lilianne R. Mujica-Parodi, PhD, and published in PNAS, reveals that neurobiological changes associated with aging can be seen at a much younger age than would be expected, in the late 40s. However,…
By Aaron Kesel With the legalization of cannabis in several states for medical and recreational purposes, older adults are taking an increased interest in the plant to combat numerous health issues. According to a recent study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, adults 65…
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School discover a potential new way in which diet influences aging-related diseases. Doug Mashek, PhD, a professor in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, leads a team of researchers who discovered that olive oil…
Eating a Mediterranean diet for a year boosts the types of gut bacteria linked to ‘healthy’ ageing, while reducing those associated with harmful inflammation in older people, indicates a five-country study, published online in the journal Gut. As ageing is associated with deteriorating bodily functions…
Physically active older adults benefit from reduced risks of early death, breast and prostate cancer, fractures, recurrent falls, functional limitations, cognitive decline, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression. The findings come from a review of all published reviews of studies that assessed the relationship between physical…
The new year means it’s time to set resolutions for 2020 and new research from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests running a marathon for the first time could have several health benefits. The study found that for first-time marathon runners, training…
Like the very young, senior populations are uniquely vulnerable to illness during cold and flu season. Many are immunocompromised and, for those living in nursing homes or who are in and out of medical settings, exposures can be high. Despite their increased risk of infection,…
By John Anderer Nuts have always been viewed as a healthy snack and great source of protein, but new research suggests that a steady, hardy diet of nuts can also sustain mental sharpness and cognition as we age. Conducted at the University of South Australia,…
Until scientists launch a magical pill that can help us roll back the years on a whim, we’ll be forever looking for methods to help us stay young. Of course, there have been some developments. It might be through the likes of surgery, with breast…
Successful aging can be the norm, says UCLA psychology professor Alan Castel in his new book, “Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging” (Oxford University Press). Castel sees many inspiring role models of aging. French Impressionist Claude Monet, he notes, began his beloved water…
By Lorna Harries, University of Exeter and Matt Whiteman, University of Exeter The ability to reverse ageing is something many people would hope to see in their lifetime. This is still a long way from reality, but in our latest experiment, we have reversed the…
By Jesse Grady, Mississippi State University “Just how old do you think my dog is in dog years?” is a question I hear on a regular basis. People love to anthropomorphize pets, attributing human characteristics to them. And most of us want to extend our…
