All articles tagged with #midlife
More women are being diagnosed with ADHD in midlife, a pattern researchers link to hormonal changes that may reveal symptoms long mistaken for burnout, aging, or anxiety, prompting calls for more nuanced recognition and treatment.
A study analyzing 516 tissue samples from 76 organ donors aged 14–68 shows rapid aging begins around age 50, with different organs aging at different rates. The findings support aging as a systemic, nonuniform process and highlight the need for further research. In the meantime, NIH/CDC guidance emphasizes regular exercise, a nutrient-rich diet, portion control, and social engagement to maintain health and quality of life into later years.
A longitudinal study of 108 adults found that roughly 80% of studied biomolecules change in two sharp waves—around age 44 and again in the early 60s—indicating distinct midlife and late-life aging windows that affect lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, immune function, and organ health. Menopause is not the sole driver, and researchers call for larger, more diverse studies to confirm and expand on these findings.
As cannabis use climbs among adults 45+, researchers warn of increased cardiovascular risks—tachycardia, hypertension, arrhythmias, and potential heart attack—especially in those with existing conditions. THC can raise heart rate and disrupt vascular regulation, and smoked cannabis brings harmful byproducts. A lack of solid research and clinical guidance due to cannabis's Schedule I status leaves physicians underprepared. Policy and industry dynamics complicate risk communication. The path forward includes standardized screening in healthcare, better provider education, more funding for research, and balanced public messaging; individuals with risk factors should discuss use with their doctors and seek help if chest pain or shortness of breath occur.
A health-focused piece urges proactive, practical steps to maintain bone strength through midlife and beyond, highlighting regular weight-bearing activity, adequate calcium and vitamin D, and overall healthy lifestyle habits to support long-term bone health.
In a candid interview, Halle Berry discusses aging with pride, her menopause‑care platform Respin, and why she’s choosing midlife storylines for onscreen roles like the thriller Crime 101. She reflects on a decades‑long career, notes how Oscar success didn’t erase stereotyping of Black actresses, and details her personal journey of healing and empowerment. Berry also recounts publicly challenging Gavin Newsom over vetoed menopause legislation, signaling she won’t stay quiet about women’s health and political leadership, while outlining future projects and a desire to keep telling nuanced stories about women in midlife.
As life expectancy rises, Frank Tallis argues that midlife should be seen as a hinge toward mental growth: accept aging, listen to the unconscious for revelatory moments, resist outsourcing inner work to AI and constant distraction, and cultivate mindfulness, new experiences, and human connection to harmonize the outer self with deeper meaning.
The Telegraph agony-aunt column discusses a 50-something woman who’s lost attraction to her husband after 30 years together. Rachel Johnson argues the issue isn’t his weight but their evolving emotional connection, and urges reframing the relationship and having honest, compassionate conversations rather than pressuring him to lose weight or insisting on sex. The recommended path is to acknowledge a new phase in their marriage and work together to reconnect, rather than “fix” him with diet or gym efforts.
The article argues that after age 55, short, daily, multi-joint strength work—performed without machines—can more effectively rebuild lost muscle than gym-based routines. It recommends two exercises per day (alternating A/B), for 10–20 minutes total, with progressive, controllable reps and a target RPE of 7–8. Sample moves include sit-to-stand squats, Romanian deadlifts, pushups, and farmer’s carries, emphasizing consistency, recovery, and improved motor coordination rather than heroic workouts.
Doctors are increasingly acknowledging irritable male syndrome as a real effect of midlife testosterone decline in men, with symptoms like mood changes, low motivation, fatigue, sleep disturbances, reduced libido, and physical changes. While not yet a formal diagnosis, experts compare it to menopause-like hormonal shifts in women and stress the need for more research and careful treatment decisions, including the careful use of testosterone therapy after medical screening.
A 40+ year UK cohort study of 10,930 participants found that higher ADHD traits at age 10 are linked to more physical health conditions and a 14% higher odds of multimorbidity by age 46. Among those likely to have had ADHD in childhood, 42.1% had two or more health conditions at 46, compared with 37.5% of those without ADHD. While smoking, BMI, and psychological factors partly explain the link, an independent health risk remains, underscoring the need for early health screening and interventions addressing health behaviors and social determinants of health.
A Stanford-led study analyzing 135,000 molecular markers in 108 people finds aging may occur at two discrete inflection points—around ages 44 and 60—where rapid changes occur in cardiovascular, immune, and metabolic pathways, with microbiome shifts closely linked to these transitions. While causality isn’t established, the results suggest midlife biology could influence disease risk and screening strategies, potentially guiding precision medicine. Limitations include a small, non-diverse sample and observational data; lifestyle factors like stress and alcohol may also play a role in these transitions.
A Boston University–led analysis of the Framingham Heart Study found that higher physical activity levels between ages 45 and 64 are associated with about a 45% lower risk of dementia, with similar benefits extending into older age (about 41% for ages 65–88). The study suggests that regular exercise improves brain health by boosting blood flow and reducing vascular risk factors like hypertension and diabetes, and recommends heart-healthy diets and engaging in social and brain-stimulating activities as complementary strategies.
Phil Cavell, a veteran cyclist and author, recounts how years of endurance riding masked Mobitz type-II heart block, a dangerous heart‑conduction issue, leading to a hospital stay and the implantation of a pacemaker. He notes that atrial fibrillation is more common in masters endurance athletes and stresses the importance of heart screening (QRISK), moderating extreme training and alcohol, and listening to warning signs. The piece underscores that, with timely diagnosis and care, midlife athletes can return to cycling with greater awareness and safety.
Robert Lloyd’s review of BritBox’s Riot Women, created by Sally Wainwright, centers on a group of women over 50 who form a rock band to enter a local talent show. What begins as a playful venture grows into a drama-infused comedy about friendship, family, motherhood, misogyny, and aging, anchored by intimate, character-driven performances. The band’s journey serves as the backbone for interwoven stories about each woman’s struggles, with a tone that blends realism and warmth and a preview of more to come in a second season.