Healthy Aging

Obesity and Aging May Share More Biology Than We Thought

A new review finds that obesity and aging affect many of the same biological systems, but shared pathways do not mean obesity literally makes someone older or that weight loss can turn back the clock.

A Vegan Diet Changed Markers Tied to Aging

A four-week trial found shifts in DNA methylation and immune patterns, but it did not show that participants aged more slowly.

Eating Less Protein May Affect Aging, but Human Evidence Is Limited

A review of more than 350 studies found biological reasons lower-protein diets could support longevity, but most lifespan evidence comes from animals and reducing protein may be harmful for some older adults.

Early-Life Sugar Rationing Was Linked to Lower Dementia Risk Decades Later

A study of nearly 65,000 people born around the end of British sugar rationing found an association between lower sugar exposure early in life and later brain health, but it cannot show that sugar caused the difference.

New Protein Target May Not Fit Every American

A new expert perspective questions whether evidence from weight-management research supports recommending 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram to adults across the lifespan.

Dietary Emissions Shift with Age, but the Reasons Go Beyond Food Choices

Adolescents and young adults had the highest dietary emissions per person, while population aging increased older adults’ share of total emissions.

Weight Cycling Was Linked to Greater Thigh Muscle Loss

Middle-aged and older adults whose weight repeatedly rose and fell lost more thigh muscle over four years, though the observational study could not determine why their weight changed.

Polyphenols May Support Brain Health

A broad review found promising biological clues, but it did not establish that any food, compound or diet prevents Alzheimer’s disease.

Diabetes Risk May Reflect Muscle Health, Not Weight Alone

Adults with both obesity and low muscle mass or strength were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with obesity alone.

Mediterranean-Style Eating May Support Well-Being as We Age

A study of adults over 50 found that greater adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet was associated with higher psychological well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Obesity’s Heart Risks Are Changing, but They Haven’t Disappeared

A large observational study found blood pressure and cholesterol gaps have narrowed among older adults with obesity in several high-income countries, likely because of medication use.

Vitamin Levels May Be Linked to Asthma Lung Function

An observational study found higher vitamin A levels were linked with better lung function in children and adults with asthma, while vitamin D showed similar links in adults.

Diet May Still Play a Role After Alzheimer’s Risk Markers Appear

A long-term study suggests lower-inflammatory eating patterns may be linked to lower dementia risk, even among older adults with biological signs of elevated risk.

A Green Mediterranean Diet May Help Raise Folate Levels

An 18-month randomized trial suggests a plant-forward Mediterranean-style diet may interact with genetic differences in folate metabolism, but the findings do not prove that any single food can prevent disease or rewrite genes.

Post-Workout Protein Is About More Than Grams Alone

A small study found that rice and beans did not boost short-term muscle protein synthesis more than a nutrient-matched shake after strength training, but the findings do not mean plant-based diets cannot support muscle growth.

A Longevity Diet Study Complicates the ‘More Protein’ Message

A new mouse study suggests protein source and amino acid balance may matter for healthy aging, but the findings do not prove people should eat less protein or take methionine supplements.

Fruit Juice Habits Linked to Higher Blood Pressure Risk

A long-term study found that people who drank more sugary beverages and fruit juice from childhood into adulthood were more likely to report high blood pressure as adults, while whole fruit was linked to lower risk.

Fish Oil Supplements May Not Deliver on Brain Health Promise

A two-year clinical trial found that high-dose DHA supplements raised omega-3 levels in the brain but did not improve memory, cognition or Alzheimer’s-related brain shrinkage.

Exercise and Protein May Help Support Recovery After Hospitalization

A small pilot study found that a combined movement and protein program was feasible and well tolerated among frail older adults in skilled nursing facilities.

Hormone Therapy Studies May Reflect More Than Hormones

A large observational study found differences in diet, strength activity and sleep across menopause and hormone therapy groups, but the results do not show that hormone therapy caused healthier habits.

Cow’s Milk and Plant-Based Milks Are Not Nutritional Twins

A dairy-funded narrative review argues that cow’s milk has nutritional advantages tied to its natural structure, but the bigger takeaway may be that milk choices vary widely and labels do not tell the whole story.

New Obesity Drug Guidance Says Medication Is Only Part of the Plan

A new American College of Physicians guideline recommends semaglutide and tirzepatide as first-line medication options for eligible adults, but says nutrition, physical activity, side effects, access and personal health goals still matter.

Weight Loss Drugs Are Not All the Same, a New Review Suggests

A review of clinical trials found tirzepatide was linked with greater average weight loss than semaglutide or liraglutide in adults without diabetes, but the findings do not mean one medication is right for everyone.

Lifestyle Changes for Prediabetes May Support Health Decades Later

A long-term follow-up of the Diabetes Prevention Program links intensive lifestyle changes to a lower burden of multiple chronic conditions in older age.

Supplements Have Moved Beyond the Daily Multivitamin

A new national analysis finds U.S. adults are using more supplements, with growing interest in products marketed for immune, gut, skin, joint and inflammation-related health.