All articles tagged with #middle aged adults
A middle-aged couple planning a second wedding registers for new household items despite already owning similar belongings, which some find inappropriate, raising questions about social norms and personal boundaries. The article also discusses feelings of being left out and hurt in family gift exchanges and the importance of communication to address expectations and misunderstandings.
A study by Penn State University found that mild dehydration impairs sustained attention in middle-aged and older adults, though it does not affect other cognitive functions. The research highlights the importance of regular hydration to maintain cognitive performance, especially for tasks requiring prolonged focus.
A new report suggests that middle-aged Americans are experiencing higher levels of loneliness compared to their European counterparts, potentially contributing to the country's lower life expectancy. Factors such as individualism, weaker family ties, and the widespread use of social media are believed to be driving this epidemic of loneliness. Persistent loneliness has been linked to various mental and physical health effects, including sleep disorders, metabolic conditions, heart disease, obesity, and cognitive decline. The study emphasizes the need for better policies to address loneliness as a public health issue and highlights the impact of social and economic inequalities on midlife loneliness in the US.
A new report from the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future panel study reveals that marijuana use, hallucinogen use, and binge drinking have reached record highs among middle-aged adults. Cannabis use has surged among young adults under 30, along with historic rates of vaping. The study also found changing attitudes towards alcohol, with a record number of Americans believing that moderate drinking is bad for health.
A recent study has found an 11% overall rise in intracerebral hemorrhage strokes over a 15-year period, with the rise in cases highest in younger and middle-aged adults. Health conditions that increase a person's risk for stroke are becoming more common in this age group, including high LDL cholesterol levels, hypertension, vascular diseases, and diabetes. Roughly 80% of strokes are preventable, and lifestyle interventions such as no smoking, staying physically active, getting enough sleep, and eating a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of stroke.
Stroke rates are declining in adults 75 and older while rising in young and middle-aged adults, with an 11% overall rise in intracerebral hemorrhage strokes over a 15-year period. Health conditions that increase a person’s risk for stroke are becoming more common in this age group, including obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Overlooked symptoms and missed diagnoses also contribute to the trend. Roughly 80% of strokes are preventable, and staying on top of routine doctor’s visits, managing blood pressure and cholesterol, avoiding smoking, staying physically active, getting enough sleep, and eating a healthy diet can all lower stroke risk.
A new study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine reports that low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets can improve the health of middle-aged and older adults. The study found that healthy low-fat diets were associated with fewer deaths from all causes, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In contrast, a general low-carb diet and an unhealthy low-carb diet were associated with significantly higher total, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality rates. However, a healthy low-carb diet was associated with slightly lower death rates. Experts recommend selecting a healthy eating plan that includes complex carbohydrates and healthy fats.
A stronger sense of purpose in life enhances cognitive resilience in middle-aged adults, according to a new study. Having a purposeful life implies changes in the organization of the brain, with one specific brain network showing greater functional connections within its components and with other brain areas, which represents a neuroprotective mechanism that could improve cognitive function in old age. The study suggests that higher rates of purpose in life may promote resilience against brain changes already observable in middle age.
Having a strong sense of purpose in life may promote cognitive resilience among middle-aged adults, according to new research. This resilience refers to the brain's ability to cope with stressors, injuries, and pathology, and resist the development of symptoms or disabilities. The study found that having a purposeful life may change the organization of the brain, with one specific brain network showing greater functional connections within its components and with other brain areas, ultimately ensuring better cognitive function into old age.