Biological age

"Sleep debt” assumes your shut-eye works like a bank account. That lost hours stack up, carry over, and you must eventually repay them in full. Well, you'll be pleased to know that it doesn’t work this way. And chasing “enough sleep” isn't helping.

In a rare study looking at cultural engagement and biological aging, scientists have found a potential link between spending time at the theater, visiting museums and galleries and watching movies on the big screen and living healthier for longer.

Glucose levels have been linked with the accelerated aging of the human brain in a new study by researchers in China, highlighting the benefits of healthy eating and exercise early in life to keep your brain fighting fit in old age.

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, drawing on tens of thousands of participants in the UK and the US, suggests that the risk of developing cancer isn't just a matter of birthdays; it's about how fast bodies age biologically.

Less fat, animal-sourced protein and more complex carbs each day, for less than a month, can potentially take years off the biological clock in older adults. It suggests our health is more sensitive to short-term lifestyle changes than we think.

Friendships, community ties and family bonds may apply the brakes to cell aging, providing a simple way to invest in health in older age. In a new study, scientists find that social connections are tied to slower biological aging and less inflammation.

In a groundbreaking study, scientists have mapped the most detailed genetic blueprint yet of frailty – the age-related decline that affects around 40% of people aged 65 and over. It provides new hope for developing precision anti-aging therapies.

Harnessing the power of a metabolite produced in the kidneys and absorbed from certain foods can mimic the health benefits delivered by exercise, regulating inflammation and promoting an array of anti-aging processes without any physical activity.

Extensive brain cell mapping has revealed that not all cell types age in the same way and that some – found in a specific ‘hot spot’ – are more sensitive to the aging process. It opens the door to developing new treatments for age-related brain diseases.