Healthy aging and longevity Archive

Studies have shown that both coffee and tea drinkers may experience health benefits compared to people who don't consume these beverages. Experts point to the high amounts of caffeine and inflammation-fighting polyphenols in these drinks as possible reasons.

In October 2024, the CDC lowered the age for healthy adults to receive a pneumococcal vaccine to 50 from 65. It also recommends a second dose of the 2024-25 COVID vaccine for people 65 and older and immunocompromised people six months after their last dose.

A 2024 study found that eating more fruit during middle age may be linked with a lower risk of developing depression later in life.

A 2024 study found that excess abdominal fat is associated with widespread, chronic pain, especially in women.

Over time, many men experience grief brought on by physical decline where they can no longer perform activities like before, have less endurance, and need more time to recover. Men can manage this grief by accepting these changes as part of normal aging, focusing on what they still can do, adjusting their goals to meet their new abilities, and talking with others going through similar issues.

White-coat hypertension refers to blood pressure that's high only when measured in a medical setting. It's defined as a reading in the doctor's office of greater than 130/80 (but less than 160/100) and an average daytime blood pressure reading of less than 130/80. If home monitoring reveals mostly normal readings, treatment may not be needed. But intermittent blood pressure spikes might still damage the heart.

Up to 40% of American adults have reported difficulty swallowing pills. Older adults are more susceptible to this problem, known as dysphagia, because they take more medications. Dysphagia may provoke people to abandon their medication regimen. Problems swallowing pills are typically traceable either to the medication or the person taking it. Drugs can cause dry mouth, affect taste, irritate the esophagus, or cause sedative effects. Conditions that affect swallowing include cancer, stroke, neurological diseases, and hiatal hernia.