Aging and longevity news covering geroscience, senior care, Medicare policy, and healthy lifespan research.
Japan's fertility rate dropped for the tenth consecutive year in 2025, reaching a record low. The decline is part of a global trend of dwindling birth rates and aging populations, prompting governments worldwide to launch initiatives to boost births.
AARP estimates that adults age 50 and older in the U.S. generate $12.5 trillion in economic activity, highlighting their increasingly central role in the economy.
This commentary profiles 89-year-old Art Ulene, who plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for his 90th birthday, aiming to become the oldest person to summit. The article argues that aging need not be a period of decline, using Ulene's story as evidence that one can live up to their potential regardless of age.
This commentary argues that while grip strength is a valid indicator of overall health and longevity, wellness influencers and media often oversimplify the science, claiming that strengthening grip alone can extend life. The author contends that grip strength is a proxy for broader health, not a direct driver, and urges caution against misinterpreting correlational evidence.
This as-told-to essay argues that the high cost of assisted living for dementia patients can force families to seek alternative care arrangements. The author contends that moving her mother into a small trailer next door was a more affordable and humane solution, highlighting systemic failures in long-term care funding.
This commentary argues that staying socially and mentally active through activities like puzzles and clubs can help prevent physical frailty in older adults. It presents findings from a study of over 12,000 older Australians, suggesting that cognitive and social engagement may slow biological ageing and improve physical resilience.
This commentary argues that caring for a spouse after a stroke, while grief-laden, can deepen intimacy and expand one's world in unexpected ways. The author contends that acknowledging shared sorrow and finding connection through small moments, such as learning from care workers, transforms the caregiving experience.
This commentary from The Globe and Mail's car advice column responds to a reader's query about choosing a final car in their late 70s. The columnists argue that the reader should consider keeping their current Subaru Outback for cost savings, but also suggest test-driving a Forester or Outback for reliability and ease of access, while cautioning against a hybrid due to rural driving patterns.
This commentary argues that declining birth rates, now below replacement level in most of the world including Australia, pose significant economic and social challenges. It contends that while an ageing population reflects human progress, economic systems view it as problematic due to fewer workers supporting government revenues, and suggests that political calls for higher birth rates often overlook constraints like housing affordability.
This commentary argues that while home robots remain largely aspirational, emerging models like the Stretch 4 offer practical assistance to elderly and disabled individuals, potentially addressing the US home care aide shortage. It suggests that such technology, though still experimental, could become more prevalent as the aging population grows.