Countering the aging narrative.
A new Yale study challenges societal assumptions about aging—that it’s an inexorable plunge to physical and cognitive decline.
According to a press release, the study’s authors report that “older individuals can and do improve over time, and their mindset toward aging plays a major part in their success.”
“Analyzing more than a decade of data from a large, nationally representative study of older Americans, lead author Dr. Becca R. Levy, PhD, a professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), found that nearly half of adults aged 65 and older showed measurable improvement in cognitive function, physical function, or both, over time.”
The catch is that improvements were highly dependent on subjects’ beliefs about aging: “Those with more positive beliefs toward aging were significantly more likely to show improvements in both cognition and walking speed.” Previous studies have shown that, conversely, individuals with fatalistic attitudes were more prone to accelerated decline.
It all seems to prove, as Frank Sinatra once crooned:
“Fairytales can come true
It can happen to you
If you’re young at heart . . .
And if you should survive to 105
Look at all you’ll derive
Out of being alive
And here is the best part
You have a head start
If you are among the very
Young at heart…”
©1953 Carolyn Leigh, Johnny Richards
Can sunlight heal autoimmune disease?
The first clue comes from epidemiological studies that show that susceptibility to multiple sclerosis is latitude-dependent; it’s less common in equatorial regions and more common in extreme northern and southern zones. Moreover, exacerbations seem to be seasonally-related, with winter predominance.
We’ve been schooled to avoid ultraviolet rays because of the risk of skin cancer, but we’ve long known that low vitamin D levels—associated with lack of sun exposure—are associated with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases like ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and MS.
Indeed, UV light boxes are an approved therapy for the autoimmune skin disease psoriasis. It was thought that was merely a function of sunlight’s ability to induce vitamin D production in the skin. But studies of vitamin D administration for psoriasis don’t replicate the full benefits of UV treatments.
There’s a study that shows that UV light therapy protected mice from MS—in the absence of a boost in vitamin D levels. In addition to vitamin D, sunlight exposure upregulates melatonin, serotonin, endorphins, endocannabinoids, cortisol, oxytocin, leptin, nitric oxide and dozens of other signaling molecules.
A recent Scientific American article describes the remarkable turnaround experienced by an MS sufferer who undertook UV therapy.
While human trials of UV treatments for autoimmunity are scant, it may prove a promising avenue for future research. Seems like the “Goldilocks Principle” applies to sunlight, as well as other hormetic exposures, like fasting, heat, cold, and intense physical exercise.
“Bird brains” are smarter
Our brains, like our muscles and skeletal systems, are “use-it-or-lose-it” organs. Challenging cognitive tasks seem to ward off cognitive decline.
I always considered bird-watching a rather eccentric pastime, without great benefits, since it involves little physical exertion. When I see birds, I can merely classify them as “big”, “small”, “colorful” or “plain”. I can’t see myself tramping through the woods with binoculars and an Audubon guide.
But a recent study may prompt a rethink.
Researchers imaged the brains of expert “birders” and found “regions of the brain related to attention and perception remain more structurally compact than in nonexpert controls”. They hypothesize that these changes may help stave off brain aging.
It’s about neuroplasticity: Every hard thing you do rewires your brain.
Famous birdwatchers are said to include President Jimmy Carter, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, and author Ian Fleming.
Experts predict surge in cardiovascular disease, especially among women and younger people
“You’ve come a long way, baby!” touted an 80s ad for Virginia Slims, an old cigarette brand targeting women. So, too, has the incidence of cardiovascular disease among women, forecasted by the American Heart Association to reach 60% by 2050.
This despite successful campaigns against cigarette smoking and the widespread deployment of cholesterol drugs.
Even younger women will be afflicted, with the rate of cardiovascular disease reaching one in three even among women aged 22 to 44.
The main culprit is the steep increase in obesity. Childhood and adolescent overweight is soaring. A CDC report found that, while adult obesity rates are leveling off—perhaps as a consequence of extensive uptake of weight loss drugs—rates among kids are taking off.
A survey conducted between 2021 and 2023 found 21% of U.S. children and teenagers ages two to nineteen have obesity, up from 5% in the 1971-74 survey. Once rare 50 years ago—with just 1% of kids with severe obesity—the rate has reached 7%.
Meanwhile, while progress is being made at improving the survival of older heart attack sufferers, a survey reveals the rising incidence of heart attacks among younger people aged 54 and below, signaling a new trend.
PFAS chemicals linked to accelerated biological aging
PFAS—perfluorinated alkyl substances—have rightly earned the sobriquet of “forever chemicals” because of their slow rate of chemical decomposition and tendency to reside for decades in human tissues. They are ubiquitous in soil, water, and agricultural products. PFAS chemicals have been detected in blood, urine, saliva, breast milk and biopsy samples of most people. They have previously been linked to serious health problems, including cancers, obesity, cardiovascular disease, infertility and endocrine disruption.
New evidence links them to acceleration of biological aging clocks in humans. Tests revealed the presence of PFAS in 95% of study participants. Higher levels of these compounds were associated with advanced biological aging in men 50-64.
Introduced in the 1950s and 60s, PFAS were purposed to repel water, grease, stains and corrosion in industrial applications. They are ubiquitous in clothing, cosmetics, food wrappers, pizza boxes, and store receipts, and are finding new applications, including in rapidly-emerging AI data centers.
Newer replacement PFAS formulations seek to pose less serious health risks, but experts fear their harms may be underestimated.
Unfortunately, previous regulatory limitations on PFAS are being rolled back and their implementation delayed to accommodate industry. But environmental groups are stepping up pressure to enact an outright ban.
