[EAT UP!] Foods that evoke nostalgia, comfort good for older adults
"Foods that evoke a sense of nostalgia and comfort and have good texture variety are important considerations in prepared meals aimed at older adults, according to new Washington State University research."
[GET FIT!] WHO provides exercise guidance to enhance healthy longevity
"Detailed, evidence-based and personalized recommendations on optimal exercise for healthy longevity were recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO). The 58-page pdf delves deeply into the rationale for regular exercise, important contributing factors to exercise capabilities, and importantly, the impact of physical activity on mortality and age-related diseases."
[HAVE FUN] Playfulness linked to resilience
"Adults with high levels of playfulness showed strong resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to less playful individuals, new research shows. The study led by Oregon State University, Corvallis, researchers is important because playfulness is a vital but underappreciated resource for building resilience and maintaining well-being during difficult periods, according to the authors."
[GET HEALTHY] New WHO guidance highlights community-based care
"The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published the second edition of ICOPE (Integrated care for older people) guidance for person-centered assessment and pathways in primary care. International Council on Active Aging Founder and CEO Colin Milner is involved in the advisory group that created the handbook, which aims is to support health workers put the recommendations outlined in the first edition of the guidelines into practice. "
[DON'T EAT UP!] Ultraprocessed foods tied to faster biological aging
"A diet rich in ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) was associated with an acceleration of biological aging in a large sample of Italian adults. For the study, which included 22,495 participants (mean chronological age, 55.6 years; 52% women), biological age was determined based on 36 blood biomarkers—specifically, the mean difference between the mean biological ages of participants and their mean chronological ages. Food intake was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Participants were categorized by sex and according to the proportion of UPFs in their diet. Higher intake of UPFs was associated with accelerated biological aging compared with the lowest intake, with a mean difference between the biological and chronological ages of −4.1 years with the lowest intake and +1.6 years with the highest intake. The poor nutritional composition of highly processed foods weakly accounted for the association, according to the authors, suggesting that biological aging could be adversely influenced by nonnutrient characteristics of UPFs, such as changes during processing that alter the foods’ structure. Regardless of the mechanism, the association stands and should be considered for meal-planning purposes and daily eating. To read the abstract of the study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, click here https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.10.006 "
As more Americans work later in life, poll shows positive health impacts, especially for those over 65
Active Aging Leading, connecting and defining the active aging industry since 2001. ICAA provides world class information, education, resources and tools to help health and wellness professionals be more successful with their clients age 50 plus
Neurocognitive disparities in aging: Exploring ethnicity & mental health
"“One possible reason for differences in neurocognitive functioning between Hispanic individuals and non-Hispanic individuals is stress as ethnic health disparities have been found to be shaped by a diverse range of lifetime stressors that are disproportionally exacerbated for ethnic minorities.”"
Understanding aging requires more than counting birthdays
"Types of tissue samples matter when measuring a person’s biological age, or how well their body is functioning, researchers report"
Groundbreaking studies reveal lasting impact of PTSD on Vietnam veterans, linking combat to CVD and chronic health issues; psychosocial conditions more than 50 years later
"Research underscores the long-term psychological and physical health challenges facing aging veterans of the Vietnam War and their broader implications"
Beyond a will: Canadians not discussing final years
"Many Canadians are not completely prepared when it comes to their later years, according to a recent survey by Scotiatrust®: Wills and Estate Planning Survey*. Of those surveyed, forty-one per cent do not have a power of attorney (POA) document that names someone to manage their finances or other assets if they become incapacitated, and 47 per cent lack a POA regarding their personal and medical care."
Air pollution impacts an aging society
"Research shows health and economic costs of air pollution in Japan"
Innovative program helps seniors manage stress
"A Université de Montréal research team consisting of Marie-Josée Richer and Pierrich Plusquellec from the School of Psychoeducation, Sébastien Grenier from the Department of Psychology, and Sonia Lupien from the Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, has released the results of a study on stress resilience in seniors. Their findings were published on January 5, 2025 in Frontiers in Psychology."
Biomarker tied to premature cell aging may signal stroke, dementia, late-life depression
"American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2025 – Poster Abstract DP3"
Number of family caregivers supporting older adults increased nearly one-third between 2011 and 2022
"Study finds caregiver experiences remained generally stable—except for those caring for older adults with dementia"
Cleveland Clinic survey: Many Americans unaware of heart health risks, skip medication doses
"Approximately 40% of Americans do not recognize the dangers of alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and sleep deprivation"
Fitness professionals predict top trends for 2025
"National trends report reflects growing interest in community engagement and quality of life"
Study: thyroid cancer still overdiagnosed
Active Aging Leading, connecting and defining the active aging industry since 2001. ICAA provides world class information, education, resources and tools to help health and wellness professionals be more successful with their clients age 50 plus
Vyta--Powered by Bayshore HealthCare announces joint initiative with the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal to empower older adults and their caregivers
"A leader in innovative aging-in-place solutions, Vyta—Powered by Bayshore HealthCare is proud to announce a groundbreaking initiative with the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (MOAP), supported by the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA). This collaboration marks a significant step in empowering Canadians to age well with accessible, high-quality, evidence-based information on aging through Vyta's website, enhancing its role as a comprehensive resource for aging-in-place services."
Aging (Aging-US) partners with Global Conference on Gerophysics
" Aging (Aging-US) (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as “Aging (Albany NY)” and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) partners with the inaugural Global Conference on Gerophysics, taking place from March 5–6, 2025, in Singapore. This groundbreaking event marks the launch of Gerophysics, an innovative field that applies theoretical physics concepts to the biology of aging, aiming to extend healthy human lifespans."
Move more, age well: Prescribing physical activity for older adults as a recipe for healthy aging
"Can physical activity extend the lifespans of older adults? A review article published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.231336 summarizes the considerable evidence supporting the important role physical activity plays in preventing or reducing the effects of diseases and discusses how to prescribe effective exercise for older adults."
Surgeon preference factors into survival outcomes analyses for multi- and single-arterial bypass grafting
"In patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a novel analysis evaluating surgeon preference for multi- versus single-arterial grafting may help explain the differing results between prior retrospective analyses and randomized controlled trials regarding long-term survival."
Why our biological clock ticks: Research reconciles major theories of aging
"Two prominent explanations for aging are not so different after all; results call current anti-aging strategies into question"
Transforming longevity research: AI paves the way for personalised treatments in ageing science
"A collaborative study between researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), and the Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Germany, investigated how advanced AI tools, like Large Language Models (LLMs), can make it easier to evaluate interventions for ageing and provide personalised recommendations. The findings were published in the leading review journal Ageing Research Reviews."
[FUN & GAMES] Leisure activity tied to better eating, cognition in older adults
"Engagement in leisure activity – or rather, lack thereof -- has been associated with depression in older adults, but the specific processes by which diet and cognition mediate the relationship between the two wasn't clear. "
[AT RISK] Study to explore binge eating in Hispanic older adults launches
"Researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and Trinity University are partnering with the San Antonio Food Bank for a four-year, $2.2 million study on eating disorders in older Hispanic women."
[AYAYAY!] US government releases artificial intelligence strategic plan
"The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released its artificial intelligence (AI) strategic plan, which provides a framework and roadmap to ensure the responsible use of AI to improve people’s lives. HHS’s objective is to set in motion a coordinated public-private approach to improving the quality, safety, efficiency, accessibility, equitability, and outcomes in health and human services through the innovative, safe, and responsible use of AI."
[FOUL!] Foods advertised during NFL games may harm older adults
"Food advertising during NFL games and other big sporting events may prompt adults with diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease and other chronic conditions to ignore prescribed dietary restrictions, a new study suggests."
[TAKE ONCE DAILY] Physical activity Rx a recipe for healthy aging
"Physical activity can reduce the risk of chronic disease, improve function, and extend life spans, supporting the’ use of exercise prescriptions as a health intervention, new research suggests. The review of the effects of physical activity for older adults documented specific benefits, such as preventing or reducing the risk of more than 30 chronic conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, depression, dementia, and cancer."
