Healthy aging and longevity Archive

A 2026 study found that sleeping 7.3 hours on weeknights may be associated with better blood sugar regulation by improving insulin sensitivity—how efficiently cells respond to insulin and absorb sugar from the bloodstream.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected children's developing social skills. Many children either didn't learn the skills they need to make friends - or those skills got rusty. Here are some ways parents can help.

Revenge bedtime procrastination involves sacrificing sleep to prioritize personal time for activities unrelated to the demands of work or caregiving. Short-term effects of insufficient quality sleep time include next-day fatigue and negative mood. Persistent sleep deprivation can increase risks of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia.

A 2026 study indicates a precipitous decline in the number of primary care providers in the United States accepting new patients. Without a primary care doctor, people are more vulnerable to serious medical problems and may have trouble getting regular tests and prescriptions.

Taking a multivitamin does not reduce the chance of heart disease or mental decline, but it does reduce the risk of being diagnosed with cancer or developing cataracts.

Muscles naturally weaken over time. But people can preserve strength and retain function with regular physical activity, including exercises to build lower-body strength. Four daily exercises are sit‑to‑stands, glute sets, heel raises, and single‑leg stands.

People with insomnia can quiet a racing mind or relax a tense body with progressive muscle relaxation, which involves gradually tensing and relaxing muscles, beginning with the toes and working up the body.

Regular resistance training, with either home-based or gym exercises, improves strength, muscle size, power, endurance, and daily function. New guidelines recommend resistance training with high effort that works all major muscle groups at least twice a week.

Meditation can be a natural part of everyday life, similar to maintaining a healthy diet or exercise routine. In this video, learn how meditation can be simple, flexible, and can be practiced almost anywhere.

While there is no agreed-upon normal range for body fat, most men ages 60 to 79 should aim for 13% to 24% body fat. Measuring waist and hip size can provide an estimate of how much dangerous belly fat a person carries.