In developed and stable nations, individuals’ lifespans are likely influenced not only by environmental factors and lifestyle choices but also by the genetic variations inherited from their parents. This conclusion arises from a recent analysis of data from a Danish-Swedish twin study.
For those residing in such countries, it’s not surprising to learn that genetics may account for half of the variation in lifespan, while environmental factors comprise the other half. However, earlier twin studies conducted decades ago suggested that genes explained only about 25% of the variation in human lifespans.
“The proportion shifts slightly, with genetics playing a more significant role while the environmental impact reduces a bit,” stated Joris Dieren from Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands. “Nonetheless, environmental factors still constitute a crucial element, accounting for at least 50%.”
Heritability measures the extent to which variations in a specific trait arise from genetic influences as opposed to environmental factors. The research team emphasizes that the heritability of any trait isn’t a constant value applicable universally; rather, it pertains to specific populations in distinct environments.
Height in wheat serves as a classic illustration. If seeds are planted in a flat, consistent field, nearly all height variations will be a result of genetics. Conversely, in a more diverse terrain, most height variation will stem from factors like soil, light, and water conditions. The heritability of height varies significantly in these two contexts.
To estimate human trait heritability, geneticists often compare twins raised in the same environment to those raised apart. In this study, Dieren and his colleagues primarily referenced twins born in Sweden or Denmark between 1870 and 1935.
Excluding accidental deaths and infections, the heritability of longevity spiked to approximately 50%, compared to age-related diseases like heart conditions.
This aligns more with our existing knowledge about aging in animals, as Dieren noted. “I believe the figure is more realistically closer to 50% than 25%.”
“This paper evaluates the heritability of maximum lifespan under optimal conditions, assuming only age-related processes are at play. This is a much narrower focus than overall lifespan,” emphasized Peter Ellis from the University of Kent, UK. It’s unsurprising that this more specific question has a higher heritability rate, he pointed out.
Joao Pedro de Magalhães, a professor at the University of Birmingham, UK, concurs: “The findings are entirely expected.”
This research indicates the potential presence of multiple genetic mutations influencing variations in human lifespans, with the identification of such mutations possibly aiding in the development of longevity-enhancing drugs. Yet, few have been discovered to date.
“The mystery remains as to why so few genes related to human longevity have been identified,” stated de Magalhães.
A significant challenge exists due to the nature of studies like the UK Biobank; many participants are still alive, resulting in insufficient numbers for reliable statistical analysis. Dieren also believes this complexity lies within the genetic factors themselves.
For instance, Ellis pointed out that there could be trade-offs, where a genetic variant that reduces autoimmune disease risk might also impair infection-fighting abilities. This suggests that the researchers’ assumption linking infection-related deaths to lifespan may not be entirely accurate.
De Magalhães added that the role of genetics appears significantly different when contrasting species rather than individual differences within a single species. “Even with the mouse genome, you wouldn’t expect a lifespan beyond three or four years,” he noted. “In stark contrast, the bowhead whale genome can result in lifespans exceeding two centuries.”
Opt for stairs over escalators for significant long-term health benefits.
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Want to boost your health this year? Small lifestyle changes can significantly impact your longevity.
According to Nicholas Kemel from the University of Sydney, just five extra minutes of sleep, two minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise, and half a serving of veggies daily can potentially extend your lifespan by a year.
It’s common knowledge that adequate sleep, exercise, and a nutritious diet contribute to longevity. Numerous studies have highlighted the lifespan differences between individuals following healthy versus unhealthy eating patterns. For instance, observing adults who adhere to World Health Organization physical activity guidelines shows significant benefits, recommending at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly.
Yet, the effects of minimal lifestyle adjustments on lifespan and health expectancy remained unclear.
To address this, Koemel and his team analyzed data on sleep, diet, and exercise habits from around 60,000 adults aged 40 to 69, gathered from the UK Biobank project. Participants reported their food intake over the past year, with their diet scored from 0 to 100 based on healthiness. Several years later, wearable exercise trackers monitored their activity and sleep for one week, followed by an eight-year tracking of health and mortality records.
This research identified the least healthy 5% of participants, averaging only 5 hours of sleep, 5 minutes of exercise daily, and scoring about 35 on the dietary scale.
Using statistical modeling, researchers estimated that those who improved their habits by sleeping five more minutes, exercising two additional minutes, and consuming half a serving more of vegetables each day lived, on average, an extra year compared to the least healthy group.
Interestingly, combining minor lifestyle adjustments yielded similar longevity outcomes as making substantial changes to a single habit. For example, simply increasing sleep by 25 minutes without altering diet or exercise can be beneficial, Koemel explains. “Lifestyle integration amplifies benefits while reducing demands on individual actions.”
Compared to the unhealthiest group, those who slept an extra 24 minutes, engaged in four more minutes of moderate-vigorous exercise, and increased their vegetable intake could potentially gain four more years of disease-free living, avoiding conditions like dementia, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and type 2 diabetes. “This is a groundbreaking finding—individuals may not only live longer but enjoy more quality years,” Koemel adds.
Koemel’s estimates suggest that an average participant—who sleeps around 7.6 hours, engages in 31 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily, and has a dietary score of about 54—can achieve similar benefits through small adjustments.
Another enlightening study this week assessed mortality and exercise data from adults over 64 in Norway, Sweden, and the U.S. Researchers, including Ulf Ekelund from the Norwegian School of Sport Science, utilized statistical models to predict that if the majority of the population (excluding the top 20% most active) engaged in just five additional minutes of vigorous activity daily, about 10% of deaths could be avoided over the next eight years.
However, both studies note limitations. As pointed out by Alan Cohen from Columbia University, dietary recall surveys may be inaccurate due to memory lapses, and a week’s tracker data may not reflect overall habits accurately.
Further research is essential to understand the duration of lifestyle adjustments required for noticeable effects. Additionally, it’s vital to investigate how these findings vary across different age demographics and whether they apply to non-Western, low- and middle-income settings, where physical activity, dietary habits, and chronic disease prevalence differ significantly.
Recent findings from neuroscientists reveal that the brain’s structure divides into five main stages throughout a typical person’s life, marked by four significant turning points from birth to death where the brain undergoes reorganization. Brain topology in children evolves from birth up to a crucial transition at age 9, then shifts into adolescence, which generally lasts until around age 32. In your early 30s, the neural wiring transitions to adult mode, marking the longest phase that extends for over 30 years. The third turning point occurs at about age 66, indicating the start of an early aging phase of brain structure, while the late brain phase begins around age 83.
Masry et al. Using a dataset of MRI diffusion scans, they compared the brains of 3,802 individuals aged 0 to 90 years. The dataset maps neural connections by tracking the movement of water molecules through brain tissue. Image credit: Mously et al., doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-65974-8.
“While we know brain wiring plays a crucial role in our development, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of how and why it fluctuates throughout life,” explained Dr. Alexa Mausley, a researcher at the University of Cambridge.
“This study is the first to pinpoint essential stages in brain wiring throughout the human lifespan.”
“These epochs offer vital insight into our brain’s strengths and vulnerabilities at different life stages.”
“Understanding these changes could shed light on why certain developmental challenges arise, such as learning difficulties in early childhood or dementia later in life.”
During the transition from infancy to childhood, strengthened neural networks emerge as the excess of synapses (the connections between neurons) in a baby’s brain diminishes, allowing only the most active synapses to thrive.
The brain rewires in a consistent pattern from birth until approximately age 9.
In this timeframe, the volumes of gray and white matter grow swiftly, resulting in maximal cortical thickness (the distance from the outer gray matter to the inner white matter), with the cortical folds stabilizing.
By the first turning point at age 9, cognitive abilities begin to evolve gradually, and the likelihood of mental health issues becomes more pronounced.
The second stage, adolescence, is characterized by an ongoing increase in white matter volume, leading to an enhancement in the sophistication of the brain’s communication networks, measurable through water diffusion scans.
This phase is marked by improved connectivity efficiency across specific regions and swift communication throughout the brain, correlating with enhanced cognitive performance.
“As expected, neural efficiency is closely linked to shorter pathways, and this efficiency increases throughout adolescence,” Mausley notes.
“These advancements peak in your early 30s, representing the most significant turning point in your lifetime.”
“Around age 32, the change in wiring direction is the most pronounced, and the overall trajectory alteration is greater than at any other turning points.”
“Although the onset of puberty is clearly defined, the conclusion is far harder to identify scientifically.”
“Based solely on neural structure, we found that puberty-related changes in brain structure conclude by the early 30s.”
Post age 32, adulthood enters its longest phase, characterized by a more stable brain structure with no significant turning points for three decades. This aligns with findings indicating an “intellectual and personality plateau.”
Additionally, the researchers observed a greater degree of “segregation” during this phase, indicating a gradual fragmentation of brain regions.
The tipping point at age 66 is more gradual, lacking dramatic structural shifts; however, notable changes in brain network patterns were found around this age on average.
“Our findings indicate a gradual reconfiguration of brain networks that peaks in the mid-60s,” stated Dr. Mausley.
“This is likely linked to aging, as white matter begins to decline, reducing connectivity further.”
“We are currently facing an era where individuals are increasingly at risk for various health conditions impacting the brain, such as high blood pressure.”
The final turning point arises around age 83, ushering in the last stage of brain structure.
Data from this stage is scarce, but a key characteristic is the shift from global to local connectivity as interactions across the brain diminish while reliance on specific regions intensifies.
Professor Duncan Astle of the University of Cambridge remarked: “In reflection, many of us recognize that our lives encompass distinct stages.”
“Interestingly, the brain also navigates through these phases.”
“Numerous neurodevelopmental, mental health, and neurological conditions are tied to the brain’s wiring.”
“In fact, variations in brain wiring can predict challenges with attention, language, memory, and a wide array of other behaviors.”
“Recognizing that structural transformations in the brain occur not in a linear fashion but through several major turning points can assist us in identifying when and how brain wiring may be vulnerable to disruptions.”
a paper detailing the study was published in the journal on November 25. Nature Communications.
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A. Mausley et al. 2025. Topological turning points across the human lifespan. Nat Commun 16, 10055; doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-65974-8
Every year, we dispose of hundreds of millions of tons of plastic
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By incorporating chemicals that imitate natural polymers like DNA into plastics, we can develop materials that decompose in days, months, or years instead of persisting in landfills for centuries. Researchers are optimistic that this innovative approach will produce plastic items that fulfill their function and then safely disintegrate.
In 2022, over 2.5 billion tonnes of plastic are expected to be discarded globally, with merely 14 percent being recycled while the rest is either incinerated or buried. The quest for effective biodegradable plastics has spanned at least 35 years, utilizing various organic sources like bamboo and seaweed. However, in practice, many of these materials prove to be challenging to compost, and their manufacturers often make exaggerated claims.
Currently, Gu Yuwei, a professor at Rutgers University, is working on technology that creates plastics with precisely calibrated lifetimes, allowing them to break down swiftly in compost or natural environments.
Gu questioned why natural long-chain polymers such as DNA and RNA decompose relatively rapidly, while synthetic polymers like plastics do not, and whether it’s possible to replicate this process.
Natural polymers possess chemical structures known as adjacent groups, which facilitate their breakdown. These structures trigger an internal reaction called nucleophilic attack that disrupts the bonds in the polymer chains, which is energetically demanding for standard plastics.
Gu and his team synthesized artificial chemical structures that resemble these adjacent groups and incorporated them during the manufacturing of new plastics. They discovered that the resulting material could degrade easily, and by altering the structure of these additions, they could adjust how long the material remained intact before degradation.
As the plastic decomposes, Gu anticipates that the long polymer chains will fragment into smaller components that can either be repurposed to produce new plastics or dissolve safely in the environment.
“This method is optimized for plastics that require controlled degradation within days to months, so we believe it holds significant potential for uses like food packaging and other transient consumer products,” Gu explains. “It is not currently suitable for plastics that must remain intact for decades, such as construction materials and long-lasting structural components.”
Nonetheless, several challenges must be addressed before these plastics can be used in commercial applications. The liquid residue after the plastic’s decomposition consists of polymer chain fragments, necessitating further testing to ensure this mixture is non-toxic and can be safely released into the ecosystem.
Moreover, while UV light is presently required to initiate the degradation, natural sunlight is enough. Therefore, until the research team discovers a method to create materials that can decompose in darkness, buried or obscured plastics may persist in the environment indefinitely.
The notion that reducing food intake could enhance longevity has existed for millennia. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates famously stated, “If you overnourish the patient, you nourish the disease as well. Excess is contrary to nature.”
For decades, scientists have been investigating the validity of this advice.
The first major evidence emerged in the 1930s when American nutritionist Dr. Clive McKay discovered that rats on a restricted diet lived nearly twice as long as those with unrestricted access to food.
These rats did not suffer from constant hunger nor did they struggle for survival. On the contrary, they exhibited better health in old age, showcasing improved lung and kidney function, with no signs of cancer (until their food supply was increased post-experiment).
Since then, calorie reduction has been linked to increased lifespan and health across various life forms, including single-celled organisms, nematodes, flies, spiders, grasshoppers, guppies, trout, mice, hamsters, and dogs.
Why is this the case? The theory suggests that reduced food consumption activates a biological mechanism in your cells that encourages energy conservation.
When food is scarce, expending energy for activities like reproduction becomes counterproductive, especially in an environment lacking sufficient resources.
Thus, evolutionary biology suggests that animals in such circumstances should conserve energy, slowing their aging process until food availability improves, increasing their chances of remaining healthy enough to reproduce later.
Anti-aging effects of eating less
While there is ample evidence of caloric restriction in animals, obtaining reliable human data poses challenges.
Funding bodies, ethics committees, and participants are understandably hesitant to commit to long-term dietary interventions.
The most significant trial to date is the carrie trial (A Comprehensive Assessment of the Long-Term Effects of Reducing Energy Intake), where participants aimed to cut their intake by 25% over two years.
(Ultimately, the average reduction was only 12 percent, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining such a regimen, even with scientific support.)
Though two years is insufficient to conclusively determine longevity, participants did experience an average weight loss of 8 kg (17.6 lb), along with minor reductions in LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and inflammatory markers.
Cutting back on protein
If you wish to apply this concept personally, an important question arises about what exactly should be reduced in your diet.
Recent studies indicate that a reduction in protein intake—the critical factor influencing our health—may be essential.
For example, one study by researchers at the University of Sydney found that mice on a low-protein diet lived approximately 30% longer than those on a protein-rich diet.
Specificity matters here. Since proteins are composed of 20 amino acids, reducing one or more of these could potentially extend lifespan.
Research indicates that lowering levels of “branched-chain” amino acids (BCAAs) might extend male mice lifespan by 30%. (The reasons behind the different effects in female mice remain unclear.)
In fact, reducing the specific amino acid isoleucine resulted in a 33% increase in male mice lifespan (compared to just 7% for female mice).
Ongoing research is investigating additional amino acids. For instance, methionine presents a delicate case.
Mice consuming a diet with 0.15% methionine lived 10% longer than those on a standard diet containing 0.4% of this amino acid.
Conversely, mice consuming 0.1% methionine often faced early death from rectal prolapse, prompting one to consider the risks involved.
Current research is shifting focus from merely restricting dietary components to optimizing them. However, with 20 amino acids, the permutations can be overwhelming.
Even experimenting with simple combinations of high and low doses of each amino acid could require over a million trials.
read more:
Genome-based amino acid diet
To tackle this complexity, scientists are examining our DNA, which directs protein synthesis. The building blocks of proteins are amino acids.
What if we provided living organisms with a diet that reflects the amino acid ratios found in their DNA?
Early research on fruit flies showed that those fed a diet aligned with their DNA ratios were larger, matured faster, laid more eggs, and had longer lifespans compared to those on standard diets.
A subsequent study involving mice found that when provided with the ideal dietary amino acid balance via their DNA, the mice demonstrated faster growth, increased muscle mass in males, and enhanced sperm production.
However, it’s yet to be determined if these mice will also enjoy prolonged lifespans.
Rapamycin (red) inhibits a protein known as mTOR (blue), which is linked to aging – Image credit: Science Photo Library
While the biological effects of reducing protein intake remain uncertain, scientists are making strides in understanding the underlying mechanisms. Similar to calorie restriction, this approach appears to significantly slow down the aging process.
A recent study published in May 2025 suggests that a low-protein diet may help in reducing DNA damage and mutations.
This doesn’t imply that proteins are directly mutagenic, but their influence on metabolism might lead to the production of “free radicals” that can harm DNA and cellular structures.
DNA mutations are known precursors to cancer and have long been associated with the aging process.
The exploration of how dietary adjustments can indirectly influence the rate of chemical “errors” in our DNA is a promising area for research.
Not everyone needs protein reduction
So, should you begin reducing your protein intake? While animal studies provide compelling evidence, human research yields more nuanced findings.
One 2014 study found that individuals consuming less protein tend to live longer than those with high protein intakes. A 50-year-old consuming under 45 g (1.6 oz) of protein daily may expect to live approximately four years longer than someone consuming 90 g (3.2 oz) daily.
Nonetheless, generalizing this advice proves challenging. In individuals over 65, the same study indicates the opposite effect. This might be due to age-related muscle loss, where protein consumption aids in weight gain.
Moreover, individuals consuming a higher proportion of plant-based protein did not face an increased mortality risk during midlife.
Hence some contend that risks may stem more from excessive red and processed meat intake than protein consumption itself.
Another factor could be that plant proteins are generally lower in certain amino acids, like methionine, meaning high vegetable consumers might naturally have a lower methionine intake.
Sadly, no comprehensive human studies have been conducted to deliberately restrict specific amino acids.
However, it would be intriguing to research this approach in humans, not through protein powders but via dietary combinations that adhere to our genetic requirements and can be easily integrated into daily nutrition.
Such findings may help mitigate the downsides associated with strict diets. Reducing food variety often leads to reported feelings of hunger, chills, decreased libido, irritability, and slower recovery from injuries.
As an old saying in longevity science goes, while dietary restrictions might not extend your life, they can certainly make your life feel longer.
Medication alternatives to protein restriction
Perhaps the answer lies not in our kitchens but in pharmaceuticals. A drug called rapamycin, for example, activates cellular recycling pathways that mimic those triggered during dietary restriction, leading to lifespans increased by up to 60% in mice.
Diabetes medications that lower blood sugar are another avenue to induce caloric reduction and extend mouse lifespans.
Moreover, GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide (Ozempic) have showcased the potential to alleviate various conditions by directly curbing appetite.
Could these or other medications help us maintain health without adhering strictly to lengthy dietary regimens?
As a person interested in a long, healthy life, but wishing to avoid being a hungry centenarian, I eagerly anticipate the initiation of clinical trials.
Illustration of rapamycin (red), a drug that inhibits proteins known as MTOR (blue)
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The anti-aging benefits of rapamycin may be related, at least in part, to its ability to prevent DNA damage in immune cells.
Initially created as an immunosuppressant for organ transplant patients, rapamycin blocks the function of the MTOR protein, which is crucial for cell growth and division. Studies suggest that low doses can extend the lifespan of various organisms, including the mouse, potentially by disrupting processes associated with aging, such as inflammation, intracellular breakdown, and decline in mitochondrial function.
Recent research by Lynn Cox and colleagues at Oxford University has demonstrated that rapamycin also appears to prevent DNA damage in certain types of immune cells. DNA damage is one of the key factors contributing to aging in our immune system, accelerating the aging process throughout the body.
The researchers conducted experiments with human T cells, a type of white blood cell responsible for fighting infections. When T cells were exposed to an antibiotic named zeocin alongside rapamycin, significant DNA damage occurred.
Results showed that rapamycin lowered DNA damage and tripled cell survival rates compared to T cells exposed to zeocin alone.
The researchers found no indication that the observed effects were due to other actions of rapamycin, such as preventing cell failure. “We consistently observe this effect regardless of whether rapamycin is administered prior to, during, or post-injury,” noted team member Ghada Arsare at Oxford University.
The rapid response suggests a direct impact. “The effect is very swift, indicating it influences the DNA damage response and accumulation. The lesions observed last about four hours, so it’s unlikely that there are downstream effects impacting other processes,” explained Cox.
According to Matt Kaeberlein from Washington University in Seattle, the findings support the notion that rapamycin can directly protect DNA, but “this is not the critical mechanism.” Researchers aim to explore rapamycin-induced alterations in RNA and proteins produced in immune cells.
In a separate part of the study, nine men aged 50 to 80 were assigned to receive either 1 milligram of rapamycin or a placebo daily. Blood tests conducted eight weeks later revealed that T cells from men taking rapamycin exhibited less DNA damage. Furthermore, neither group experienced a decrease in overall white blood cell counts, indicating that rapamycin does not negatively impact immune functionality. “Our findings confirm that low doses are safe, which is crucial,” stated Cox.
Mitigating DNA damage in the immune system may provide a pathway for reducing overall aging, according to Cox. Arsare highlighted the potential for rapamycin to be used preventively, such as for astronauts exposed to cosmic radiation.
“Rapamycin is particularly promising in addressing aging-related issues where DNA damage is a significant factor, such as skin aging,” noted Kaeberlein. Referring to a study, he added that local use of rapamycin reduces aging markers in human skin. However, he cautioned against generalizing results to other types of damage, such as radiation, given that Cox’s team used antibiotics to create DNA damage.
Zahida Sultanova from the University of East Anglia emphasized the necessity for trials involving women and individuals across various age groups, as the placebo-controlled experiments were limited to older men. Evidence from non-human animal studies indicates that rapamycin may have sex-specific and age-specific effects.
Exercise doesn’t need to be lengthy to yield substantial rewards
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If you’re skipping exercise due to time constraints, integrating just a few short bursts of activity—like 5 to 6 active sessions of 10 seconds each—can greatly impact your health. A US study revealed that individuals engaging in over a minute of intense activity daily had a significantly lower mortality risk over the next six years compared to those who were inactive.
Currently, only about 15% of adults participate in regular exercise, according to Emmanuel Stamatakis from the University of Sydney, Australia. “The majority of the adult population struggles with including regular exercise into their routine, whether due to a lack of interest or difficulty.”
To further investigate, Stamatakis and his team studied the health benefits associated with incidental exercise, which can occur through activities like walking downhill, playfully engaging with children, and carrying heavy objects. They monitored participants for one week as part of a larger health study, assessing their activity levels and examining mortality risks in the following year.
In 2023, findings from the UK Biobank study involving tens of thousands of participants indicated that those with approximately 4.4 minutes of daily active time were 38% less likely to die from any cause in the next seven to eight years compared to non-exercisers.
Additionally, the research included results from 3,300 individuals in the US NHANES study. “This group, on average, is significantly overweight and less active,” remarks Stamatakis.
This group only required 1.1 minutes of intense activity daily to lower their overall mortality risk by 38% over the subsequent six years.
This demonstrates that this less active US group experienced similar relative benefits with just 1.1 and 4.4 minutes of activity found in the fitter UK group; however, it doesn’t imply they reached the same health status. Participants in the US study generally had lower fitness levels to start with and were at a higher baseline risk of mortality.
“This observation may indicate a more sedentary, higher-risk demographic that benefits considerably from minor increases in activity, and I concur,” states Carlos Celis Morales from the University of Glasgow, UK. “This phenomenon is known as the ceiling effect; those with high fitness levels have diminished potential for further improvement, while individuals with lower fitness levels have significant room for enhancement.”
The findings further support the notion that even small amounts of intense, unintentional movement can yield substantial health benefits. However, Stamatakis cautions that causation hasn’t been firmly established yet. “While it seems logical that health benefits might exist,” he notes. “This type of study cannot definitively prove causality.”
His research team is planning future studies to provide stronger evidence that observed health improvements stem from increased incidental exercise. “Our long-term objective is to discover methods to incorporate more activity into people’s everyday lives without requiring trips to the gym,” Stamatakis expresses.
Losing our loved ones can affect us in various ways
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Those who endure prolonged, intense grief following the loss of a loved one may face a significantly higher risk of mortality within the next decade.
Numerous studies have drawn connections between bereavement and health outcomes. I experienced increased blood pressure. However, many of these studies only monitored bereaved individuals for a few years after the loss. Andreas Merker, who was not part of the recent research conducted at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, noted this.
Now, Mette Kjærgaard Nielsen from the University of Aalborg in Denmark and her colleagues have investigated the link between grief and mortality ten years post-loss.
The researchers accessed the national registry to gather information on individuals receiving care for terminal illnesses. They recruited over 1,700 relatives of these patients, including parents and partners, and conducted a series of assessments before the patients’ deaths, as well as six months and three years afterward. These assessments included questions posed to their relatives, who averaged 62 years in age, about whether they felt they were trying to keep memories of the deceased person alive.
The research team found that 670 relatives continued experiencing low levels of grief after the loss, including feelings of confusion regarding their life roles. The others either rejected their grief or experienced delayed grief that surfaced some time after the loss.
The researchers then analyzed the medical records of these loved ones a decade after their loss. They discovered that the mortality rate in the high-grief group was 88% higher compared to the low-grief group.
“There’s a saying that bereavement is heartbreaking,” remarked Maercker. He indicated that the findings bolster the notion that long-term, profound grief can exert physical strain on the body, leading to premature death. Bereaved families may engage in lifestyle changes, such as skipping meals.
At the onset of the study, only 17% of the relatives were diagnosed with any medical condition. However, Nielsen noted that this occurrence was more prevalent among individuals in the high-grief group. The presence of pre-existing health conditions may, in part, explain the higher death rates observed during the follow-up period, while poor health can exacerbate feelings of grief, as Maercker highlighted.
Offering specialized support to those grappling with severe, long-term grief can potentially save lives, regardless of whether they have pre-existing health conditions or not.
Researchers have devised a technique to assess the biological age of the brain, revealing it to be a key indicator of future health and longevity.
A recent study involved an analysis of blood samples from 45,000 adults, with protein levels measured in over 3,000 individuals. Many of these proteins correlate with particular organs, including the brain, enabling the estimation of each organ system’s “biological age.”
If an organ’s protein profile significantly deviated from its expected age (based on birthday count), it was categorized as either “very matured” or “very youthful.”
Among the various organs assessed, the brain emerged as the most significant predictor of health outcomes, according to the research.
“The brain is the gatekeeper of longevity,” stated Professor Tony Wyss-Coray, a senior author of the newly published research in Natural Medicine. “An older brain correlates with a higher mortality rate, while a younger brain suggests a longer life expectancy.”
Participants exhibiting a biologically aged brain were found to be 12 times more likely to receive an Alzheimer’s diagnosis within a decade compared to peers with biologically youthful brains.
Additionally, older brains increased the risk of death from any cause by 182% over a 15-year span, whereas youthful brains were linked to a 40% decrease in mortality.
Wyss-Coray emphasized that evaluating the brain and other organs through the lens of biological age marks the dawn of a new preventive medicine era.
“This represents the future of medicine,” he remarked. “Currently, patients visit doctors only when they experience pain, where doctors address what’s malfunctioning. We are transitioning from illness care to wellness care, aiming to intervene before organ-specific diseases arise.”
The team is in the process of commercializing this test, which is anticipated to be available within the next 2-3 years, starting with major organs like the brain, heart, and immune system.
An illustration depicting the drug rapamycin (red) inhibiting the protein complex MTORC1, influencing cell functionality
Science Photo Library/Getty Images
The drug rapamycin shows effects on life extension that are nearly comparable to calorie restriction, based on the largest study exploring the lifespan of various vertebrate species.
Researchers are probing if lifestyle changes like diet and exercise can enhance longevity while mitigating aging-related health issues. For instance, calorie restriction, when balanced with nutritional needs, has demonstrated extensions of lifespan in non-human animals of up to 40%.
“In our field, we have long recognized that calorie restriction often yields positive results,” says Matt Kaeberlein, who was not involved in the recent research from Washington University in Seattle.
Another area of interest lies with potential anti-aging medications, such as rapamycin, initially developed as an immunosuppressant. The combination of rapamycin with the cancer treatment trametinib has shown a 30% increase in mouse lifespan earlier this year.
Currently, Zahida Sultanova from the University of East Anglia, along with her collaborators, is reviewing data from 167 studies on lifespan interventions across eight vertebrate species, such as fish, mice, rats, and rhesus monkeys, though not in humans.
The findings indicated that dietary restrictions, regardless of whether they primarily involve calorie reduction or intermittent fasting, extend the lifespan of all eight species, regardless of sex. Rapamycin appears to produce effects similar to these. They also examined the type 2 diabetes medication metformin, which has been suggested as a potential longevity stimulant, but found no benefits regarding lifespan.
Kaeberlein also warns against using medication or limiting calories solely to combat aging, as this could be linked to physical debilitation and mental health issues. “We must better understand the ratio of risks to rewards in humans before making such decisions,” he states. “Rapamycin might be beneficial for certain individuals, and ongoing research aims to clarify who those individuals are.”
Other medications similar to rapamycin, termed Rapalogs, might offer even more promising options with fewer adverse effects for lifespan extension, claims Sultanova.
Kaeberlein adds that while these results align with existing literature, “the effect sizes observed in shorter lifespans typically surpass those in longer ones, so caution is warranted when comparing across species.”
Understanding time can be a complex concept. Einstein famously explained how time is relative, experienced differently based on the speed of an object. Let’s dive into the topic further.
Many animals have defied the odds and lived long, extraordinary lives. But which animal holds the title for the longest lifespan?
Scientists have studied longevity for years, with species on this list offering potential insights for longer, healthier lives. Let’s explore some of the world’s longest-living creatures.
Humans: Earth’s Longest-Lived Land Mammals
A photo of Jeanne Calment in 1995 at the age of 120. Photo courtesy: Pascal Parrot/Sygma/Getty Images
Jeanne Calment holds the record for the world’s longest-lived person, living an astonishing 122 years and 164 days. Born in 1875 in Arles, France, she claimed to have met Vincent van Gogh and humorously described him.
Calment credited her stress-free life and sense of humor for her longevity, even indulging in smoking after meals until she quit at 117. She outlived her daughter and grandson, passing away in 1997.
Glass Sponge: The Longest-Lived Aquatic Creature
Stalked vitreous cavernoma (hexatinerid) of Borosoma photographed at Maruru Seamount. Photo credit: National Marine Sanctuary/Wikipedia
The glass sponge, with its delicate appearance, can live up to 15,000 years, found in oceans worldwide at depths below 450 meters. Its unique ability to generate electrical impulses sets it apart from other creatures.
When threatened, the glass sponge’s flagella halt their beating, a survival adaptation distinct from other sponge species. Its shape remains unchanged when stimulated.
Cookie the Cockatoo: Earth’s Longest-Lived Bird
Cookie the pink parrot, photographed at Brookfield Zoo, USA, in 2008. Photo: Nimesh Madhavan/Wikipedia
Cookie the Cockatoo, a male pink parrot, holds the record for the oldest parrot, living until 83 years old before passing away in 2016 at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, USA.
Despite retiring from public life at 81 for health reasons, Cookie outlived other pink parrots by decades.
Naked Mole Rat: The Longest-Lived Rodent
Close-up of a naked mole rat (Heterocepalus glaber) in its underground burrow. Photo credit: Getty Images
Naked mole rats, resilient rodents, can survive 18 minutes without oxygen and show resistance to cancer. They live underground, protected from predators, and age differently than other mammals.
With accurate cell replication and DNA protection, naked mole rats can live for decades, with some reaching 37 years old.
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Ocean Quahog: The Longest-Lived Invertebrate
The oldest marine quahog is thought to be over 500 years old and is known as “Min”. Photo courtesy of Bangor University
The ocean quahog, an arctic clam species, holds the title for the oldest animal on Earth. A specimen found in 2006 off the coast of Iceland was estimated to be 507 years old by scientists.
Known as “Ming” or “Hafrun,” these clams display annual growth rings, allowing scientists to determine their age.
Aldabra Giant Tortoise: The Longest-Living Turtle
Adwaita, a giant Aldabra tortoise, rests in a cage at Alipore Zoo in Kolkata, India, on April 25, 2005. Photo by Deshakalyan Chowdhury/AFP/Getty Images
The Aldabra giant tortoise, native to the Seychelles’ Aldabra Atoll, is Earth’s longest-living turtle species. The oldest, Adwaita, lived an estimated 255 years before passing away in 2006.
Greenland Shark: Earth’s Longest Living Fish
Greenland shark or Greenland sleeper shark (Somniosus microcepalus) swimming along the St. Lawrence River estuary in Canada. Photo credit: Alamy
Greenland sharks, with slow metabolisms, inhabit cold oceans and have lifespans difficult to estimate due to their unique physiology. Carbon dating suggests ages between 252 and 512 years.
Bobi: The Longest-Lived Dog
A photo taken on February 12, 2023 shows Bobi, the world’s oldest dog according to Guinness World Records, at her home in the village of Conqueiros, near Leiria, Portugal. Photo by Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images
Bobi, a Rafeiro de Alentejo, achieved a remarkable 31 years before his passing, earning recognition as the longest-lived dog in history. Originally from Portugal, these dogs are known for their gentle nature.
In 2003, Hubble provided evidence of giant exoplanets around very old stars. Such stars have only small amounts of the heavy elements that make up planets. This suggests that some planetary formation occurred when our universe was very young, and that those planets had time to form and grow large within the primordial disk, becoming even larger than Jupiter. I am. But how? To answer this question, astronomers used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to study stars in the nearby Small Magellanic Cloud, which, like the early Universe, lacks large amounts of heavy elements. They discovered that not only do some stars there have planet-forming disks, but that those disks are longer-lived than the disks found around young stars in our Milky Way galaxy.
This web image shows NGC 346, a massive star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Yellow circles superimposed on the image indicate the positions of the 10 stars investigated in the study. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Olivia C. Jones, UK ATC/Guido De Marchi, ESTEC/Margaret Meixner, USRA.
“With Webb, we have strong confirmation of what we saw with Hubble, and we need to rethink how we model planet formation and early evolution in the young Universe.” European Space Research Agency said Dr. Guido de Marchi, a researcher at Technology Center.
“In the early universe, stars formed primarily from hydrogen and helium, with few heavier elements such as carbon or iron, and were later born from supernova explosions.”
“Current models predict that because heavy elements are so scarce, the lifetime of the disk around the star is short, so short that in fact planets cannot grow,” said a researcher at NSF's NOIRLab's Gemini Observatory. said lead scientist Dr. Elena Sabbi.
“But Hubble actually observed those planets. So what happens if the model is incorrect and the disks have a longer lifespan?”
To test this idea, the astronomers trained Webb in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy that is one of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way.
In particular, they examined the massive star-forming cluster NGC 346, which also has a relative lack of heavy elements.
This cluster served as a nearby proxy for studying stellar environments with similar conditions in the distant early universe.
Hubble observations of NGC 346 since the mid-2000s have revealed that there are many stars around 20 to 30 million years old that are thought to still have planet-forming disks around them.
This was contrary to the conventional idea that such disks would disappear after two or three million years.
“Hubble's discovery was controversial and went against not only the empirical evidence for the galaxy, but also current models,” Dr. De Marchi said.
“This was interesting, but without a way to obtain the spectra of these stars, we will not know whether what we are witnessing is genuine accretion and the presence of a disk, or just an artificial effect. I couldn't actually confirm it.”
Now, thanks to Webb's sensitivity and resolution, scientists have, for the first time, spectra of the formation of Sun-like stars and their surrounding environments in nearby galaxies.
“We can see that these stars are actually surrounded by a disk and are still in the process of engulfing material even though they are relatively old, 20 or 30 million years old,” De Marchi said. Ta.
“This also means that planets have more time to form and grow around these stars than in nearby star-forming regions in our galaxy.”
This discovery contradicts previous theoretical predictions that if there were very few heavy elements in the gas around the disk, the star would quickly blow away the disk.
Therefore, the lifespan of the disk is very short, probably less than 1 million years.
But how can planets form if dust grains stick together to form pebbles and the disk doesn't stay around the star long enough to become the planet's core?
The researchers explained that two different mechanisms, or a combination of them, may exist for planet-forming disks to persist in environments low in heavy elements.
First, the star applies radiation pressure to blow the disk away.
For this pressure to be effective, an element heavier than hydrogen or helium must be present in the gas.
However, the massive star cluster NGC 346 contains only about 10 percent of the heavy elements present in the Sun's chemical composition.
Perhaps the stars in this cluster just need time to disperse their disks.
A second possibility is that for a Sun-like star to form when there are few heavier elements, it would need to start with a larger cloud of gas.
As the gas cloud grows larger, it produces larger disks. Therefore, because there is more mass in the disk, it will take longer to blow it away, even if the radiation pressure is acting the same.
“The more material around the star, the longer the accretion will last,” Sabbi says.
“It takes 10 times longer for the disk to disappear. This has implications for how planets form and the types of system architectures that can be used in different environments. This is very exciting.”
of study Published today on astrophysical journal.
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Guido de Marchi others. 2024. Protoplanetary disks around Sun-like stars appear to live longer when they are less metallic. APJ 977,214;Doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad7a63
This article is adapted from an original release by the Webb Mission Team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Inflammatory molecules (green) are found in liver tissue from aged mice.
Anissa A. Wijaya et al. 2024
Blocking an inflammatory molecule known as interleukin-11 (IL-11) extends the lifespan of mice, suggesting that drugs that block IL-11 may have anti-ageing effects in humans.
As we age, damage accumulates in our cells, triggering our immune system to release inflammatory molecules such as IL-11. While low levels of inflammation can protect us from disease and injury, excessive inflammation damages cells and is thought to accelerate aging.
“It's like pouring gasoline on a fire.” Stuart Cook Research from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore suggests that reducing inflammation could help slow the decline in health that comes with aging.
To test this idea, Cook and his colleagues injected 37 mice with a drug that uses antibodies to block IL-11. The mice received injections every three weeks from the age of 75 weeks (equivalent to about 55 years in humans) until they died. Another group of 38 mice received a different antibody therapy that did not target IL-11.
The researchers found that blocking IL-11 extended the lifespan of both male and female mice by more than 20 percent, and in further experiments, animals that received anti-IL-11 therapy were less likely to develop cancer: fewer than 16 percent of treated rodents had tumors, compared with more than 60 percent of controls.
The therapy also reduced cholesterol levels, frailty and body weight, and improved muscle strength and metabolism in the treated animals. Together, these findings suggest that blocking IL-11 may ameliorate age-related decline in health and extend lifespan in mice.
But until clinical trials are conducted, Cook says it won't be clear whether the same is true in humans. Although several trials are underway testing anti-IL-11 therapies in people with certain inflammatory diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis, none are investigating their potential anti-aging effects, he said.
It's also important to remember that some inflammation is normal as we age. Shilpa Ravella Speaking at Columbia University in New York, she says the difficulty lies in knowing who might benefit from this type of anti-inflammatory therapy.
In 2020, researchers in the United States and China conducted a study that involved manipulating genes in nematodes, allowing them to live five times longer than normal. The study focused on C. elegans, a species commonly used for aging research due to shared genetic circuits with humans. The researchers suggested that targeting these conserved genes with drugs could potentially extend human lifespan.
Despite the success in nematodes, it is important to note that worms have a significantly shorter lifespan compared to humans. Therefore, it may not be realistic to expect humans to live to be 500 years old based on these findings.
While our current average lifespan of 73 years is already longer than that of our ancestors, there is ongoing debate about whether we should strive to extend human lifespan even further. Some concerns include potential overpopulation, increased resource consumption, and environmental impact.
However, studies have shown that as life expectancy increases, birth rates tend to decline. This trend has been observed in many countries with advanced healthcare systems. In fact, some regions have seen population decline due to lower fertility rates.
In countries like Japan, where life expectancy is high, the average lifespan has increased while birth rates have significantly decreased. This trend suggests that longer lifespans do not necessarily lead to overpopulation.
Increasing life expectancy in developing countries should also be a priority to ensure that longer lifespans are achieved without compromising quality of life. It is important to consider the ethical implications of prolonging life in regions with existing disparities in healthcare and resources.
Ultimately, the goal should be to promote longevity in a way that prioritizes overall health and well-being for all individuals, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status.
Are hearing aids really worth the investment? Recent research suggests that they may be more beneficial than previously thought. In fact, a new study indicates that using hearing aids can decrease the risk of premature death by about 25%. Despite this, a large portion of adults with hearing loss in the US and UK do not use hearing aids, even though they could greatly benefit from them.
Researchers at the University of South Carolina conducted the study and are hoping that their findings will encourage more people with hearing loss to utilize hearing aids. Dr. Janet Choi, the study’s principal investigator, stated that the results are particularly interesting as they point to the possibility that hearing aids can contribute to overall health and longevity.
The study, which was published in the Lancet Health and Longevity journal and involved 10,000 participants, found that regular users of hearing aids had a considerably lower risk of death compared to non-users. The research also suggested that consistent use of hearing aids, rather than occasional use, was key to reaping the benefits for longevity.
This research indicates that hearing aids can lead to improved mental health and cognitive function, ultimately contributing to a longer and healthier life. Interestingly, the study found that factors such as degree of hearing loss, age, ethnicity, and income did not impact the benefits of hearing aids on lifespan.
These findings suggest that the benefits of using hearing aids go beyond improved hearing and may actually play a crucial role in promoting overall health and well-being.
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