John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged aging · everything

Fast Company

3 Simple Habits That Can Protect Your Brain From Cognitive Decline

This piece, written by neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart, argues that while brain aging is partly inevitable, lifestyle choices can meaningfully slow cognitive decline by promoting neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons in the hippocampus. It offers a three-part plan built on aerobic exercise (ideally outdoors and socially engaging), intermittent fasting or calorie restriction after consulting a doctor, and consistent, high-quality sleep that supports the brain's glymphatic clearance of age-related toxins.

Permalink nutritionhealthagingbrain

www.inverse.com

Evolutionary biologists reveal how exercise unlocks human longevity

Harvard evolutionary biologists propose that humans' exceptional longevity compared to other primates evolved because our ancestors needed to stay physically active and healthy into old age to provision and care for their grandchildren—a role requiring sustained energy expenditure that our bodies are biologically designed for. The research suggests that physical activity in later life evolved to regulate fat storage and reproductive hormones while simultaneously triggering cellular repair processes, and modern sedentary lifestyles create a dangerous mismatch between our activity-dependent biology and our desk-bound existence. The authors argue that maintaining lifelong physical activity, particularly in older age, is essential to preventing the chronic diseases of aging that plague industrialized societies where humans are uniquely inactive.

Permalink healthagingexerciselongevity

www.wsj.com

www.scientificamerican.com

Can You Change Your Metabolism?

Most claims about boosting metabolism are either dangerous or false, according to experts, because metabolism is largely determined by body composition—particularly muscle mass—and remains relatively stable despite diet trends and exercise routines. While building muscle through exercise and consuming protein can produce modest increases in metabolic rate, the body compensates for increased activity by reducing energy expenditure elsewhere, and metabolism doesn't actually decline significantly until around age 60, contrary to popular belief about a "middle-aged slowdown." Ultimately, weight loss depends on eating fewer calories overall rather than on metabolism hacks, though protein and fiber can help with satiety.

Permalink nutritionhealthfitnessweight loss

www.mensjournal.com

83-Year-Old Triathlete Joseph Maroon Shares the Six Daily Supplements He Swears By

Joseph Maroon, an 83-year-old neurosurgeon and competitive triathlete, credits his transformation from poor health at 40 to his current fitness level to a combination of six daily supplements—fish oil, turmeric, fisetin, resveratrol, trimethylglycine, and magnesium—along with a Mediterranean diet and avoidance of processed foods. Each supplement serves a specific function, from fish oil's cardiovascular benefits to magnesium's support for the intense exercise required in his seven triathlons since age 53. Maroon's regimen began as a response to depression and poor eating habits following personal losses, demonstrating that significant lifestyle improvements can start at middle age.

Permalink nutritionhealthfitnessmediterranean

www.nytimes.com

The Hidden Costs of Downsizing

Claire Wolters' article examines the financial and emotional trade-offs older homeowners face when downsizing, showing how sellers who move from long-held family homes often encounter unexpected expenses, renovation demands and market realities. Using examples from [[Philadelphia suburbs]] residents who accepted fixer townhouses and a couple who rented between sales in [[Radnor, Pa.]] and [[Malvern, Pa.]], the piece explores how agents at [[Compass]] advise targeted, cost-effective upgrades, staging and photography to attract younger buyers. It discusses demographic and market data from the [[National Association of Realtors]] and commentary from a [[University of New Haven]] economist to explain why higher interest rates, limited inventory and generational preferences for move-in-ready properties can erode downsizers’ gains and force delayed or complex transitions. Agents recommend early planning, modest updates and staging to preserve value effectively.

Permalink real estatepersonal financeaginghousing

The Conversation

Tiredness of life: the growing phenomenon in western society

Researchers across Europe are studying "tiredness of life"—a distinct form of despair affecting some healthy older people who feel their existence has lost all meaning and yearn to die. Unlike existential suffering tied to terminal illness or other life crises, this phenomenon is characterized by the conviction that one's life journey is complete and dragging on pointlessly, rooted in factors like profound loneliness, loss of social relevance, fear of dependency, and the cumulative erosion of identity. The piece suggests that this suffering may reflect how Western medicine and society have extended biological survival while neglecting quality of life and social purpose for elders, contrasting with cultures like Japan where aging is viewed as a period of continued growth and meaning.

Permalink healthphilosophypsychologymental health