When you open the refrigerator and find a wedge of cheese flecked with green mold, or a package of chicken that smells faintly sour, it can be tempting to gamble with your stomach rather than waste food. But the line between harmless fermentation and dangerous spoilage is sharp. Consuming spoiled foods exposes the body to […]
People have long given up on the search for the Fountain of Youth, a mythical spring that could reverse aging. But for some scientists, the hunt has not ended – it’s just moved to a different place. These modern-day Ponce de Leóns are investigating whether gut microbes hold the secret to aging well. The gut […]
People have long given up on the search for the Fountain of Youth, a mythical spring that could reverse aging. But for some scientists, the hunt has not ended – it’s just moved to a different place. These modern-day Ponce de Leóns are investigating whether gut microbes hold the secret to aging well. The gut […]
At a recent party, another guest, a nurse, asked what I do for a living. I explained that as a health policy researcher, my work focuses on helping healthcare systems coordinate care for dementia as effectively as for major conditions like cancer, diabetes or stroke. She stopped me mid-sentence. “I don’t think you should use […]
Why do some people live to 100 while their sibling dies decades earlier? Is it luck, lifestyle, or something written into their DNA? Relative to many other species, humans are particularly long lived, but there is an ongoing argument about how much of our long lifespan is shaped by our genes and how much to […]
Robert Duvall, who has died at the age of 95, will be remembered for a glittering career that saw him appear in two of American cinema’s most iconic films. But let’s not forget the other hundred or so more across a career spanning six decades. Duvall was as comfortable in disposable fare like Gone in […]
Imagine going to the hospital for a bacterial ear infection and hearing your doctor say, “We’re out of options.” It may sound dramatic, but antibiotic resistance is pushing that scenario closer to becoming reality for an increasing number of people. In 2016, a woman from Nevada died from a bacterial infection that was resistant to […]
Named for the patron saint of lovers, Valentine’s Day brings to mind three ubiquitous R’s: roses, romance and reservations. But science (and common sense) points to something far more expansive to be celebrated: love in all its forms—romantic partnership, of course, but also friendship, family bonds, neighborliness, purpose-driven community, even the quiet loyalty of showing […]
If there’s one theme that keep recurring in so many studies on aging and longevity, it’s the word “inflammation.” A ton of research has already been done to demonstrate its relationship with aging, and new research keeps demonstrating how its reduction can promote longevity. That’s why we noticed this article, which explains why inflammation is […]
In the U.S., the five-year survival rate for all cancers combined has reached an historic milestone: it is now 70% for people diagnosed during 2015–2021, according to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics, 2026 report. “Seven in 10 people now survive their cancer five years or more, up from only half in the mid-70s,” said Rebecca Siegel, lead author of the report. “This stunning victory is largely the result of […]
