Why morning blue light therapy could improve sleep and daily activity in older adults: 4 PM production/Shutterstock What if a simple change in your morning light exposure could help you sleep better? Our sleep patterns change across our lifespan, and, as we get older, we tend to have difficulty getting a good night’s sleep and …
A double whammy of winter fuel payment cuts and scrapping a planned cap on social care costs is set to hit older people: Many older people will lose out financially under the government's policies. PeopleImages.com – Yuri A Before the general election, former prime minister Rishi Sunak was asked on TV why he “hated pensioners”. …
Why the assumption that British voters switch to the Conservatives as they grow older is wrong: Shutterstock/Olga_Lots If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain. At first glance, this quote, …
Why older people are some of those worst affected by climate change: shutterstock While we are all affected to some extent by extreme weather, it is older adults, especially older women and those with disabilities, who tend to be the most vulnerable. Who struggles most is partly determined by age but also pre-existing health conditions, …
Ketone drinks: why we’re testing the effects of this supplement used by elite athletes on older adults: Ruslan Huzau/Shutterstock Ketone drinks are used by elite athletes to improve focus and enhance performance. But could they also help people to live healthier for longer? Considered “super fuels” among some endurance athletes and health enthusiasts, ketone drinks …
Why our voices change as we get older: Sir Elton John set a record at this year’s Glastonbury, becoming the most-watched headliner in the festival’s history, with more than 7 million people tuning in live to the BBC to watch his last ever UK performance. The 76-year-old singer certainly delivered all his characteristic showmanship. But …
China’s population grew older and richer: policy lessons for some African countries: China's population peaked, and is now falling. Tang Ke/VCG via Getty Images For decades China was the world’s most populous country. But that’s changed. Its population has peaked, and is now falling. The country has achieved high levels of economic growth for four …
When what you type doesn’t mean the same thing to the (older) person you’re texting or tweeting: Marmolejos On a day-to-day level, the way we interact with the people around us is shaped by our expectations, which are rooted in our experience. Most adults experience more regular and intensive contact with adults of roughly the …
Older people have eating disorders too – but they’re a largely ignored group: Josie (not her real name) has bulimia. She is prescribed steroids to manage a lung condition and heart failure and has gained a significant amount of weight as a result of using the drugs. Her body mass index (BMI) is over 35, …
Is Norse god Odin older than previously thought? An expert analyses new evidence: A new find from Denmark, dubbed the Vindelev bracteate, has challenged previous understanding of religion in late prehistoric and early medieval Scandinavia. The discovery of the oldest recorded mention of the god Odin – usually known from much later stories of Norse …
What is driving current labour market shortages and how older workers could help: Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock Many countries are struggling with worker shortages right now as companies in the US, UK and the EU all struggle to fill job vacancies. This is often attributed to pandemic-related phenomena such as the “great resignation” or “great reshuffle”, when …
Older women are smashing it this awards season – but ageism is far from over: Older and middle-aged women are having their moment in the sun, it seems. The recent Golden Globes coverage was filled with images of “older” women on the red carpet. There were some notable wins too. Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and …
Politicians are getting older – shutting young people out of decision-making around the world: US president Joe Biden is clearly frustrated about the focus on his age. In mid-December last year he reportedly vented to allies, saying: “You think I don’t know how fucking old I am?” But, as attention turns to the 2024 election, …
How Ireland’s ‘great reshuffle’ could benefit women and older workers: Dublin's 'Silicon Docks'. Faina Gurevich / Shutterstock Recent global tech sector layoffs have hit Ireland’s workforce hard. Prior to these job cuts, the Irish digital sector directly employed more than 270,000 people, as well as creating many more ancillary jobs. Tech jobs pay an average …
Struggling to make friends as an adult? Why you should try looking to older generations: fizkes / Shutterstock While loneliness can strike at many points throughout our lives, there are times when it is especially acute. Big transitions like leaving university, changing jobs or moving cities can make us feel isolated and socially excluded from …
The U-shaped happiness curve is wrong: many people do not get happier as they get older: A comforting myth. tommaso lizzul/Shutterstock On average, happiness declines as we approach middle age, bottoming out in our 40s but then picking back up as we head into retirement, according to a number of studies. This so-called U-shaped curve …
COVID: how careful do I still need to be around older and vulnerable family members?: JP WALLET/Shutterstock We are all pretty fed up with COVID, and perhaps keen for a summer of holidays, social outings and family get togethers. But while the threat posed by COVID has certainly decreased the virus can still be dangerous, …
Long COVID: female sex, older age and existing health problems increase risk – new research: shurkin_son/Shutterstock About 2 million people in the UK currently have long COVID, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics. In the UK, long COVID is defined as “signs and symptoms that continue or develop after acute …