Muscles are essential to keeping the body healthy and functioning well. In addition to allowing us to move, they help regulate blood sugar, support metabolic health, and protect our joints while helping us remain independent. Yet, as we grow older, muscle strength and size naturally decline. This gradual loss can affect stability, raise the risk of falls, and make it take longer to bounce back after an injury or illness.
Taking a nap throughout the day is a common habit among middle-aged and older Americans. While napping may seem like a harmless or even beneficial habit, new research indicates that shifts in how often older adults nap could provide clues about underlying health concerns and an increased mortality risk.
Melatonin plays an important role in regulating the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. The hormone is produced naturally in response to darkness, while synthetic melatonin is often used by people with insomnia.
For many of us, darkness at night is becoming harder to find. Streetlights, buildings, electronic devices, and even small lights in the bedroom can keep us exposed to artificial light long after the sun goes down. New research suggests that repeated nighttime light exposure may have effects on the heart, including changes to its structure and how it functions, which could increase the risk of cardiovascular problems over time.
If you're trying to improve your health by walking more, you may not need to focus only on reaching a certain number of steps. A new study suggests that how quickly you walk may matter just as much. Researchers found that both walking more and picking up the pace were linked to a lower risk of death, including death from cardiovascular disease.
We know that obesity can raise the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other health conditions. And, for years, BMI has been one of the most common ways to assess weight-related health risks. But for older adults, BMI may not provide the full picture. In a new study, an increased waist size was associated with an increased risk of premature death among adults 65 and older.Waist size is a simple way to estimate the amount of visceral fat a person may have.
As aging progresses, it is often accompanied by increased body fat, reduced insulin sensitivity, and less efficient energy metabolism. Interventions such as regular exercise and caloric restriction have been shown to support healthy aging, but they are not always practical over the long term. Researchers are now exploring therapeutic alternatives that can reproduce similar metabolic benefits.
Valine is an essential amino acid the body relies on to make proteins and support normal growth and tissue repair. Unlike some other amino acids, it cannot be produced naturally by the body, so it has to be consumed through food. A new study found that restricting dietary valine extended bothmedian and maximum longevityin male mice while improving overall healthspan in both male and female mice.
Healthy aging isn't just about living longer, it’s about staying strong enough to enjoy those extra years. New research shows that getting enough protein and combining it with resistance exercise is one of the most effective ways to preserve muscle, maintain mobility, and reduce the physical decline that often comes with aging.
Our daily routines and body rhythms tend to shift with age. Although chronological age is fixed by time, biological age reflects how well the body is functioning. A new study suggests that aging may affect circadian rest-activity rhythms, the body’s natural daily cycle that helps regulate wakefulness, activity, rest, and sleep.
Reducing calorie intake and limiting nighttime eating are well established ways to improve health and potentially extend lifespan. But researchers are now asking whether eating only during set hours each day could have a similar impact on overall healthy aging. In a new study, mice that followed a consistent daily eating window showed significant improvements in healthspan and remained free of disease for longer.
Emerging studies are challenging the broad health claims surrounding olive oil, indicating that its benefits may be questioned. Recent research indicates that too much olive oil, specifically its high oleic acid content, could promote weight gain.