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researchers tested for options to power districts, including commercial and residential propertiesThough the Earths deeper layers have been raging at thousands of degrees for billions of years, new research involving Florida Tech has shown that tapping into that heat to produce geothermal heating for urban regions on the surface has a far, far shorter lifespan. (Florida Tech image)

BREVARD COUNTY MELBOURNE, FLORIDA Though the Earths deeper layers have been raging at thousands of degrees for billions of years, new research involving Florida Tech has shown that tapping into that heat to produce geothermal heating for urban regions on the surface has a far, far shorter lifespan.

Florida Tech astrobiology assistant professor Manasvi Lingam, along with Alto University researcher Eero Hirvijoki and University of Western Australia researcher David Pfefferl, recently published the paper, Longevity and power density of intermediate-to-deep geothermal wells in district heating applications in The European Physical Journal Plus.

The team explored how practical it to use geothermal heating in northern, colder latitudes, places like Boston, Toronto London and Helsinki, Finland.

The researchers tested for options that can power districts, including commercial and residential properties, not small-scale systems.

By examining the average amount of power requires per unit area for a city, the team has an idea of what will be required to power these places, thus helping guide their geothermal extraction research.

They have found that geothermal energy, after working well initially, weakens until after a generation or maybe a half-century, it becomes generally ineffective. This decline is due to shifts in the temperature gradient, a key element to geothermal heating.

Geothermal energy works by putting a pipe deep enough into the ground to tap into a warmer layer.

That could be 30 feet down, it could be hundreds of feet or even deeper. Using water or another fluid, that heat is brought toward the surface, where the temperatures are cooler.

These temperature differentials power the geothermal heating of cities and towns, and the gradient in temperature contributes to the energy that can be extracted.

However, over time, the warmer bottom region begins to cool down, and the upper regions warm up, causing the temperature gradient to slowly decrease, Lingam and the researchers found. The more the gradient declines, the less amount of heat can be extracted.

An option explored by the team is the use of multiple pipes, with the principle of taking advantage of extracting heat from different spatial locations and distributing it accordingly.

With the pipes extracting heat, temperatures would avoid becoming homogenous, thus allowing for the machines to run off the heat.

While Lingam noted this procedure would help to some degree, it would only be a short-term solution, as the temperature gradient would become homogenous vertically and horizontally.

This could work for a few decades, maybe even 40-50 years, but it wouldnt be continuously effective for more than a century or thereabouts, Lingam said.

They will need to need to start divesting off geothermal energy then more to solar or other forms of renewable energy.

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Florida Tech Researchers Discover Geothermal Heating May Have Limited Longevity on Urban Regions - SpaceCoastDaily.com

Exercise is longevity's lifeblood because it wards off numerous chronic diseases, such as heart disease. What's more, you don't have to do much exercise to unlock the benefits. Research suggests walking every day can extend your lifespan.

Several studies have linked the mild intensity exercise to longevity but a study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) examined the association between time spent walking and life expectancy.

The authors followed up 27,738 participants aged 40 to 79years and prospectively collected data on their survival covering a 13-year-period.

The researchers found participants who walked one hour per day had a longer life expectancy from 40years of age than participants who walked less than onehour per day.

In addition to their longer life expectancy, participants who walked one hour per day required a lower lifetime medical expenditure from 40years of age than participants who walked less than an hour per day.

READ MORE:How to live longer: Tea with a slice of lemon could reduce cancer risk and boost longevity

In their concluding remarks, the researchers said: "Encouraging people to walk may extend life expectancy and decrease lifetime medical expenditure, especially for men."

Evidence suggests it is not only the duration of walking that counts but also the pace.

People who have a faster walking pace outlive those who walked more slowly, according to researchers who monitored the walking habits and deaths of nearly 475,000 people, most of whom were in their 50s at the start of the study.

Brisk walking was defined by researchers as walking at least three miles per hour, or 100 steps a minute.

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It is worth nothing that walking pace was self-reported by participants, who were asked to indicate whether they walked at a slow pace, steady/average pace, or brisk pace.

The study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that participants with brisk walking paces had longer life expectancies across all categories of body mass index (BMI).

BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.

The survival is the same for fast walkers for a wide range of body mass index, from 20 to 40, Dr. Francesco Zaccardi, a clinical epidemiologist at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom and the studys lead researcher, told Healthline.

This result indicates that physical function is a stronger determinant of longevity than body mass index, and also people with high body mass index but with a good fitness may survive longer."

Conversely, participants with slower walking paces had shorter life expectancies across all categories of BMI.

Researchers reported that women who walked more quickly had a life span of about 87 years compared to 72 years for women who walked slowly.

Men who walked quickly had a life span of about 86 years compared to 65 years for men who walked more slowly.

Thats a 15-year average difference for women and a 20-year average difference for men.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health, and can help you feel your best.

The Eatwell Guide shows that to have a healthy, balanced diet, people should try to:

"If you're having foods and drinks that are high in fat, salt and sugar, have these less often and in small amounts," adds the NHS.

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How to live longer: Walking every day promotes longevity - the amount you need to do - Express

Longevity swap pricing is expected to remain attractive through the coming year, as reinsurance capital to support large pension risk transfer deals remains abundant and slower mortality improvements feed into reinsurance pricing, according to Willis Towers Watson (WTW).After a busy year in 2020, when the market for longevity swaps and longevity risk transfer hit forecasted levels of activity and we listed just over 24 billion of longevity swap deals in our Directory, WTW is forecasting market conditions to remain conducive for the year ahead.

One of the drivers for this has been a general slowing in mortality improvements, the company explained, something that now could be exacerbated further by the COVID-19 pandemic and how that effects mortality rates.

Even before the pandemic hit, the slowdown in mortality improvements seen in recent years has been factored into the reinsurance pricing offered to support longevity swaps, WTW explained.

The result, is the lowest pricing relative to pension scheme reserves on record, the company noted.

On top of this, increasing competition in the market for longevity reinsurance deals is also helping to pressure pricing and keep reinsurers keen.

With the end result being the driving down of longevity swap and bulk annuity pricing, as well as pricing of capacity for pure longevity reinsurance deals, something WTW believes is set to persist.

As a result, the broker expects 2021 could see 25 billion of UK longevity swaps.

Ian Aley, Managing Director in Willis Towers Watsons Transactions team, explained, The pensions de-risking market has proved itself to be incredibly resilient and, while uncertainty will remain in 2021, we dont see this denting the desire and ability for pensions schemes to complete risk management transactions.

It remains to be seen what impact COVID-19 will have on longer term expectations for mortality rates. For many schemes, the market pricing of longevity will currently look very attractive relative to their funding reserves. We therefore expect schemes will continue to look to lock into assumptions which are affordable against their current funding target to reduce future uncertainty as part of their wider hedging programmes.

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Longevity swap pricing to remain attractive in 2021: WTW - Artemis.bm

Sportico is proud to partner with The Harvard Sports Analysis Collective, a student-run organization dedicated to the quantitative analysis of sports strategy and management, to bring our readers the excellent work coming from some of the brightest young minds in the country.

In a year marked by so much uncertaintyeven far beyond a certain 43-year-olds future as a professional quarterbackone constant has remained: Tom Brady is playing in the Super Bowl.

Over 21 years in the league, there isnt much he hasnt achieved. A 14-time Pro Bowler, three-time MVP, and six-time Super Bowl champion, Brady has at one time or another led the league in touchdowns, passing yards, expected points added, defense-adjusted yards above replacement, total quarterback rating, passer rating and any other statistical category you can conceive. Hes been recognized as the Offensive Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Super Bowl MVP and 1st Team All-Pro.

If you can win it, Tom Brady probably has.

And on Sunday, hell have his chance at illustrious ring number seven, but first, hell have to get through Patrick Mahomes, his presumptive heir apparent as league standard-bearer.

To fully grasp Bradys longevity and consistency (and to see whats changed since he flew south to Tampa), its useful to see his achievements alongside his contemporaries. While others may rival his individual, per-game statistics, its hard to believe that anyone will ever amass the sustained dominance and jaw-dropping rsum that Brady has accrued over the course of his career.

Regardless of outcome, Sundays appearance will put Brady alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only American professional team athletes in the last half-century (1971-2020) to play in 10 league finals and win more than half of them. In fact, no other NFL player has been to more than six Super Bowls (Stephen Gostkowski, Mike Lodish).

In addition to his regular attendance to the biggest game of the season, Bradys consistent yearly production over two decades has prompted some to wonder: If you chopped his time in the NFL into twoor even threechunks, would they each be individual Hall of Fame careers?

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Expected points added (EPA) measures how much better or worse a teams position on the field is from one play to the next; it provides meaningful units to measure a players total contribution to his team. As you can see in the chart below, Bradys seasonal EPA trajectory resembles that of Hall of Fame contemporaries Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers if they happened to share one career.

But whats even more stunning about this season is that after two decades with the same coach, owner and home field, Brady joined a new organization in an abbreviated offseason, learned and embraced a new passing philosophy and still managed to rise to the top.

From 2019 to 2020, Brady significantly reduced the frequency of his short throws (<11 air yards)the same ones completed at a league-leading 0.22 EPA/attempt during his time in New Englandand turned to Bruce Arians fabled vertical passing attack. Over the course of the regular season, Brady threw 21 more long passes (25+ yards from the line of scrimmage) than any other player in the league.

Not only is he throwing deep in a way we havent seen before, but hes doing it well; since Week 13, Bradys averaging 0.83 EPA/play on throws 15+ yards from the line of scrimmage, good for fifth in the NFL in that span and just ahead of likely MVP Aaron Rodgers (0.82).

In short, Tom Brady has taken a rsum the size of War and Peace and penned yet another chapter.

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Measure of The Man: Tom Bradys Career Numbers Show His Longevity, Versatility - Yahoo Sports

Lewis Hamiltons contract extension for 2021 was one of the least surprising developments of Formula 1s off-season but already some have suggested it may be his last dance. But is that really likely?

Lewis Hamiltons presence within Formula 1s record books is already cemented: most titles (currently held jointly with Michael Schumacher), most wins and most poles, with those figures likely to trickle into triple digits by the summer.

He is continuing to perform at an extraordinary high level as witnessed on a number of occasions in 2020: take your pick from the wet Styrian pole lap, triumphing on three wheels at Silverstone or the drive to seal the title at a grip-less Istanbul Park. There were other less memorable races, such as at Spa, Barcelona or Portimao, at which he merely pulverised the opposition.

Yet there are other statistics that are striking.

Hamilton is already Formula 1s seventh-most experienced driver, his Covid-enforced Sakhir absence concluded the longest streak of appearances at grands prix, while in claiming the title in 2020 he became the oldest champion since Damon Hill in 1996.

The focus, particularly in recent years, has been towards youth. Formula 1s youngest ever champions Fernando Alonso, then Hamilton, then Sebastian Vettel have been followed by its youngest entrant and race winner Max Verstappen whose very arrival prompted a re-writing of the regulations.

Verstappen, who debuted aged 17, is a special case but not quite an anomalous oddity. Contemporaries on the grid, Lance Stroll and Lando Norris, were the second- and fourth-youngest starters in history, while Esteban Ocon comes in at number 11, Charles Leclerc 18 and Carlos Sainz 20, out of the 767 to enter a race. Ferrari has placed its faith in Leclerc, the same age as Verstappen, while George Russell 23 next week has two years under his belt with Williams.

But all still need to displace the mercurial Hamilton, who has previously commented on how he relishes the challenge from the youngsters, from his plinth and there is no reason to expect the World Champion to walk away any time soon.

Every athlete is different but we are in the era of some of the greatest talents in any sport prolonging their astonishing careers beyond what has been widely anticipated some even into their fifth decade. They are special talents, incredible athletes, intensely focused, with an unrelenting rage to win, aided by advancements in science and technology such as a greater appreciation and understanding of elements such as nutrition, training and sleep management. No one path has been the same but the end result has been a train of success.

On Sunday Tom Brady claimed a record seventh Super Bowl title, having transferred from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, aged 43. He has won in three different decades and now has more individual success than any franchise. Last October LeBron James, just nine days older than Hamilton, led the LA Lakers to their first NBA title in 10 years, as well as becoming the Finals MVP.

At our age, we can still dominate our sport, James is quoted by Lakers Daily last month, when referencing Brady. We have one common goal and thats to win and win at the highest level.

Tennis icons Serena Williams and Roger Federer, born seven weeks apart, will turn 40 later this year and both continue to strive to add to trophy cabinets that are overflowing with riches. Federer may currently be recuperating from surgery, and Williams has also struggled with injury, but neither is yet throwing in the towel.

Ive seen players in the locker room, the Legends tour, and at some points I was older than them and I was wondering if I should be there, joked Williams in 2017 on her longevity.

Said Federer recently, to Swiss broadcaster SRF, I like to play tennis for life. In the last few months I have given a lot in rehab. I had to go through it, but I always enjoyed it. I want to celebrate great victories again. And for that, I am ready to go the long, hard road.

Federers long-term rival, Rafael Nadal, is a 13-time French Open champion yet at 34 still hurtles around the court like a caged animal. World Number 1 Novak Djokovic plays with the elasticity of someone a decade younger than his 33 years.

Italys Serie A may not be the most fast-paced of Europes leading football leagues but at the top of the goalscoring charts are Cristiano Ronaldo, 36 exactly a month younger than Hamilton and the enigmatic Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is 39. Across the Mediterranean the ferocious Luis Suarez, 34, is fronting La Ligas charts. In golf Tiger Woods has not had the sustained success of those just mentioned but his perseverance paid off in 2019, ending an 11-year wait for another major, by claiming the Masters aged 43.

None of this it to say that the athletes in their twenties or even teens and early thirties are lacking in ability, passion or technique. Bradys opposite number on Sunday, Patrick Mahomes, was 24 when he spearheaded Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl triumph in 2020. NBAs MVP for the last two years, is the Milwaukee Bucks 26-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo. Naomi Osaka, 23, is already a multi-Grand Slam champion of a talented generation seeking to emulate Williams. Collin Morikawa was 23 when he won last years PGA Championship. In Formula 1 Verstappen and Leclerc who was born on the same day as Osaka have already underlined their credentials. It is a special generation.

But sports GOATs are still going strong and showing little sign of slowing down those who adorned front covers and billboards in the 2000s (or even late 1990s) are still there in the 2020s, pushing away notions of retirement. Moving it closer to home Hamiltons two predecessors as World Champion are Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen. The returning Alonso, 39, has signed up to compete for Alpine for the next two years while Alfa Romeos Raikkonen, 41, continues to race on, 20 years after their respective Formula 1 bows. Scott Dixon, crowned IndyCar king for a sixth time, is 40, and among his team-mates this year will be NASCAR convert Jimmie Johnson, 45. Valentino Rossi, while no longer a potent front-running force, is still in MotoGP, revered worldwide, and next week turns 42. WRC champion Sebastien Ogier is 37 albeit insisting 2021 will be his swansong.

Hamiltons one-year extension was slightly surprising, given all his past deals have been multi-year arrangements, but there is reason for the relative brevity.

Because we left it very late we wanted to discuss the contract at the end of the season between the Bahrain races and then obviously Lewis didnt feel well, said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff on Monday.

At the end we started our conversations just before Christmas and it was important to get it done as soon as possible and in that respect we thought lets postpone the discussion about 2022 and onwards to a later stage in 2021.

As long as he enjoys racing, I think hes very capable of going longer. He develops as a driver, he looks after himself in terms of physical training and mental preparation side, so I dont think in terms of ability that ends in 2021, but at the end its [his career] his decision.

Hamilton has more to his life than merely Formula 1, most notably his interests in fashion, music, and more recently the push for diversity and equality the campaign for which is more effective the longer he is present. Inevitably, at some point, there will be a generational handover of the baton whether through choice or by circumstance. But his contemporaries have underlined that the older guys can still cut it.

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Hamilton, sports GOATs, and the era of longevity - Motorsport Week

When it comes to health, we are all constantly on the lookout for ways to boost our health and overall wellness. Often, we look to food as a means by which to achieve these goals. That seems to make logical sense. Were all constantly told you are what you eat. If that is indeed the case then it is vital that we take a long, hard look at what were putting into our bodies. One food which seems to have an outstanding track record when it comes to health benefits is garlic. Garlic has long been held in high esteem. In fact, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates apparently used to prescribe garlic for all manner of health conditions. These benefits are not just based on ancient history. Modern science has since confirmed that garlic does in fact benefit the body.

Many of us enjoy the addition of garlic in meals like pizza, pasta and stir fry. But the benefits of adding garlic to your food might be more far-reaching than simply making your food taste good.

Garlic, relative to its small size and calorie content is incredibly nutritious. According to Healthline, just one clove of garlic contains:

And this same amount contains just 4.5 calories 0.2 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbs. It seems that garlic contains a little of almost every single nutrient which the body requires. This means that garlic is nutrient-dense without being calorie-dense. Making it one of the few options for adding flavour without excess calories.

Garlic, mostly in the form of supplements have long been used to boost the immune system. This is something we could all benefit from in 2021 whilst

Heart attacks and strokes are currently some of the worlds leading killers. These diseases are largely causedby high blood pressure (hypertension). Garlic, again in supplement form, seems to have a significant impact on reducing blood pressure. One study found that 6001,500 mg of aged garlic extract was as effective for reducing blood pressure as the drug Atenolol over a 24 week period. The dosage to achieve this effect is quite high and equates to about 4 cloves of garlic a day.

There are two types of cholesterol, one is good and one is bad. LDL is the bad one and HDL is the good type of cholesterol. In sufferers of high cholesterol, taking garlic supplements reduced the total and/or LDL cholesterol by up to 15%. Garlic appears to have a direct impact on LDL cholesterol and works to lower it but has no effect on the good HDL cholesterol.

Garlic is full of antioxidants that aid in supporting the body to protect against oxidative damage. Oxidative damage comes from free radicals and contributes to the ageing process. Garlic supplements have been shown to increase antioxidant enzymes. They also reduce significantly oxidative stress in people with high blood pressure. The combination of reducing cholesterol and blood pressure alongside the antioxidants is hugely important. Studies have shown that it may be beneficial in reducing the risk of brain diseases such as Alzheimers and dementia. It is worth mentioning however that again, these benefits only come from a high dosage of garlic supplements.

The addition of garlic or garlic supplements into the diet seems to have an overall beneficial impact on humans. However, its almost impossible to prove that garlic helps you live longer. What it does do is decrease risk factors such as high blood pressure and high LDL cholesterol. The fact that it aids the immune system also seems to indicate that overall, garlic can have a beneficial impact on the body which may help you live a longer, healthier life.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-garlic#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265853

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Could garlic help to increase your longevity? - Longevity LIVE

Healthy lifestyle: Physical activities abound on college campuses like William & Mary. These healthy habits are among the benefits of college education that contribute to health and longevity, according to a study led by W&M Assistant Professor of Economics Peter Savelyev. Photo by Jim Agnew

by Nathan Warters | February 4, 2021

A study led by William & Mary Assistant Professor of Economics Peter Savelyev and funded by the National Science Foundation argues that college education leads to healthier and longer lives.

The study, Understanding the Mechanisms Linking College Education with Longevity, was published in September in Journal of Human Capital.

Researchers around the world still debate whether education affects health. Savelyev and his team support the claim that education improves heath by demonstrating the mechanisms behind this effect while using state-of-the art statistical analysis.

In our paper, we show that education increases health and longevity though healthier lifestyles, superior earnings and better work conditions, he said.

Savelyev and his co-authors examined data obtained from men and women who graduated from high school in Wisconsin in 1957. This specific timeframe was important to allow for data collection on at least a partially deceased U.S. cohort.

William & Mary News recently spoke to Savelyev about this study. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Variables related to healthy lifestyles that proved to be important are participating in physical exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight and abstaining from smoking tobacco. We also study the role of extremely dangerous work conditions, such as cutting trees or being exposed to infectious diseases. Educated people are less likely to face such jobs. The work conditions mechanism does not necessarily imply diminishing job-related risks for the general population, but it is a personal benefit for those who study hard and receive advanced degrees.

It is well known that many essential life determinants emerge early in life. Later in life, things are harder to change. College education is a powerful contributor to human development that increases health and longevity, among many other good effects, and it should be supported in situations when free market solutions do not work well enough.

Our simulations demonstrate that major health differences created by college education are hard to close later in life, even by strong hypothetical policy interventions, such as greatly increasing taxation of cigarettes.

Partly, this is because the effect of education is strong, and it works through many different mechanisms. It is not easy for an intervention that targets just one specific mechanism to overcome a strong effect created through dozens of mechanisms. Also, some policies, such as taxation of cigarettes, affect behavior of both the college-educated and those who did not go to college, so the effect on the difference between these two groups is small.

We find that obtaining a bachelors degree leads to about three additional years of life for men. However, we could not find any effect of college education for women, who live longer than men regardless of their education status. We identified from our data two mechanisms that partly explain the gender difference. One is that men tend to take more dangerous jobs than women. Another is that educated women of this historic cohort born in late 1930s in Wisconsin were less likely to be married, which created a negative contribution to their longevity that masked a positive contribution related to higher income. Marriage is good for your longevity. Since a negative effect of college education on marriage no longer takes place for more recent cohorts of women, we can expect a stronger effect of college on their longevity, as confirmed by our simulations.

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Study examines why college education leads to healthier and longer lives - William & Mary News

A total of 1trn of defined benefit (DB) pension longevity risk will be insured through de-risking transactions by the end of 2031, Hymans Robertson has predicted.

According it the firms 2021 Risk Transfer Report, buy-ins, buyouts and longevity swaps have insured 0.3trn of risk from DB pension schemes since 2007. This is expected to increase by 0.7trn between now and the end of 2031.

Around 180bn of the 0.3trn came through buy-ins and buyouts, while approximately 110bn was insured through longevity swaps.

Hymans Robertson estimated that around 450bn of the 0.7trn of growth up to 2031 will be driven by buy-ins and buyouts at an average of over 40bn per year.

The remainder of the increase is expected to come through longevity swaps.

Commenting on the findings, Hymans Robertson head of risk transfer, James Mullins, said: 1trn of insurance would be equivalent to around half of the value of all gilts currently issued by the UK government or around half the value of all of the companies in the FTSE 100.

Indeed, with the level of growth in pension scheme buy-ins and buyouts that we are projecting, we can expect to see several insurance companies become some of the largest companies in the FTSE 100 over the next 10 years.

Our analysis projects when each individual DB pension scheme in the UK is expected to be able to afford to insure its pension promises.These projections show that we expect demand from pension schemes for buy-ins and buyouts to average at over 40bn a year during the next decade.

This is due to a combination of factors such as funding requirements meaning that sponsoring employers will need to fund pension schemes to a higher level and the cost of insuring deferred member liabilities having reduced materially in recent years. These points mean that the additional money a pension scheme needs to get to buyout is less than it has been in the past.

This gap will reduce further as pension schemes mature, as more contributions are paid in and as investment risk is reduced further.

Mullins added that the longevity risk associated with around 17 per cent of all DB liabilities in the UK has now been insured, up from around 1 per cent 10 years ago.

During 2020, approximately 54bn of DB pension risk was transferred to insurers, with around 30bn coming form buy-ins and buyouts, and approximately 24bn from longevity swaps, making 2020 the second-highest total on record, after 2019.

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DB pension de-risking expected to total 1trn by 2031 - Pensions Age

There are three hormones in your body specifically important for healthy aging and longevity. Although for many it seems we shouldnt focus on healthy aging when we are in our 20s and 30s but before you know it, the daily decisions that you are making matter and have a long-term impact on your health.

Many age-related conditions appear out of nowhere. They silently grow inside you before they are apparent and hard to ignore. Thats why regular check-ups and looking underneath the hood once in a while is important.

Well, all hormones matter for healthy aging but here we are going to focus on the three most important hormones for longevity and a healthy lifestyle.

Three Hormones to Focus on for Longevity and Healthy Aging: Which Hormones Matter for Healthy Aging?

Many experts would agree that cortisol is one of the most important ones. Its crucial for your health to keep the level of cortisol low. When your cortisol level is constantly high, it can have many causes namely inflammation, chronic stress, poor sleep, weight gain, and many other reasons. A high level of cortisol is an indicator that you are in a vicious cycle of issues and problems that are accumulating daily.

Cortisol can affect our muscle mass. The important part of healthy aging is keeping your muscles and bones strong. When the level of cortisol is high, it can have an impact on your muscles and bones as well as your overall health.

There are many ways of lowering the level of cortisol. You need to get enough sleep, exercise, learn to relax through methods that suit you from meditation to walking, and learn how to deal with stress. The most important thing is to have more fun in life, less stress. You can also lower the level of cortisol by taking certain supplements such as fish oil but overall healthy lifestyle habits will take you to longevity, healthy aging, and low cortisol levels.

This hormone is crucial for building muscles. When the level of testosterone is low it can be linked to age-related diseases. Older men with a low level of testosterone can have a high risk of death from heart disease. Its important to stress there is a link between testosterone and age since every man loses anywhere between 1% and 2% of testosterone during his life span. If your testosterone level stays higher with age you are in theory younger compared to your peers.

Most of the research on testosterone has been done on men since women naturally have a lower level of testosterone. However, testosterone is important for both genders especially in link with cortisol.

We need to find a way to keep a level of testosterone high as much as possible while keeping the level of cortisol low. In that case, you have better chances to build your muscles and stay healthy.

It seems like a logical question to ask, especially if you are a woman. How to have a higher level of testosterone without growing a mustache? Well, you can start with exercise and lift weights, eat more proteins, carbs, and fats. If you minimize stress and have a low level of cortisol, you will have a higher level of testosterone.

Vitamin D is essential for almost any function from regulating the production of thyroid hormones to helping the immune system and managing inflammation. When we talk about the immune system, some research has been done indicating that vitamin D can help manage the risks of COVID 19. However, we need more research to find a clear connection.

Vitamin D is so easy to take. Sometimes all you need is one supplement a day. Other things that can help include spending more time in the sun or consuming more seafood and fatty fish such as tuna, oysters, sardines, and mackerel. Your diet matters for vitamin D, so eat more eggs, mushrooms, and seafood. The majority of vitamin D supplements come from animal sources so if you are vegan opt for D2 supplements to get enough vitamin D.

There is much that can be done to keep healthy and to optimize your health over the years and keeping track of these hormones is a crucial part of it.

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Three Hormones to Focus on for Longevity and Healthy Aging - Gildshire Magazines

Thanks to our new, 20-second hand-washing practices, our hands got a lot of attention this year. But while most of us know how important it is to keep them clean (cough, cough: very), you may not realize that its also important to keep them strong using hand exercises. In fact, it could even help you live longer.

According to research, grip strength might be an indicator of longevity. A 2018 study found that there is clear evidence that shows low grip strength is associated with a range of poorer health outcomes, and authors told Reuters that grip strength showed a stronger association with cardiovascular disease than blood pressure and physical activity. According to Phaeleau Cunneen, CPT, this is likely attributed to the fact that people with high grip strength lead a generally more active lifestyle, but theres still value in integrating grip-strengthening hand exercises into your routine.

For those of us working from home, our hands have likely started to suffer due to less-than-ideal work setups. A poor home ergonomic set up can contribute to repetitive stress injuries, muscle imbalances, and pain, says Cunneen, which could explain why your fingers are suddenly cramping after a long day of typing on your laptop. This is where hand exercises come in.

Any exercises that increase grip strength, like strength training, will help engage, activate and improve your hand muscles, says Cunneen. Thats important because you want your hand muscles to function optimally so that you can perform day-to-day movements. When you grip heavy objects essentially you are training the muscles in your hands, adds Katie Kollath, ACE, CPT and co-founder of Barpath Fitness. If your grip strength becomes weak, you are setting yourself up for risk of injury and worst-case scenario arthritis in the hands and wrists down the line.

If youre already lifting weights as a part of your regular routine, theres good news: That process, in itself, helps to strengthen your hands because it requires you to hold onto a few extra pounds (think: swinging a kettlebell or curling a dumbbell). And in fact, even doing bodyweight exercises, like planks, can aid in making your grip stronger. Just holding external loadsincluding your body weightwill improve your grip strength and will carry over to most exercises you do in your programming, says Kollath.

If you still find your hands feeling weak or like your muscles are cramping, try putting them through one of the targeted hand exercises below.

To build strength and mobility in your hands, touch your thumb to the tip of each of the four other fingers on the same hand, moving from your pointer to your pinkie and back again.

If you want to increase the range of motion in your hands, put them through a small strength-training circuit. Start with your palm flat, then curl all five of your fingers down at the knuckle. Next, extend your fingers out at a 90-degree angle from your palm, and finally squeeze them into a fist (the harder you squeeze, the better it is for your grip strength). Repeat the process in reverse, then start again from the beginning of the circuit.

Think of this as a resistance band workout for your hands. Place a rubber band around the backs of your fingers, and open your palm as far as you can to try to stretch it out. The added resistance that the band provides will help to strengthen your phalanges.

You know that stress ball you received at the company holiday party last year thats been sitting in your top drawer ever since? Well, its finally going to come in handy. Place it in the palm of your hand, squeeze as hard as you can, and hold for a few seconds before releasing.

To strengthen your hands during your regular workout routine, youll just need to make one tiny tweak to the moves youre likely already doing. Instead of placing your hands flat on the floor during high planks and push-ups, place your fingers in a tented position so that theres a small space between your palms and the ground. This will require your fingers to do the brunt of the work and will build strength in them in the process.

This weighted move will work your hands, wrists, and forearms. Grab a five- to 10-pound dumbbell and hold it vertically in one hand. Seated in a chair, place your forearm on top of one thigh with your wrist and hand out slightly past your knee. Move your wrist up and down slightly, gripping the weight as you move, and try to cycle through three sets of 20 reps on each side.

This move is similar to the lateral wrist extension but challenges your hands in a different way. Staying seated with the same five- to 10-pound weight in your hand, place the back of your forearm against your thigh with your wrist three to four inches over your knee. Flex and extend your wrist to curl the weight (the motion is similar to your usual bicep and tricep curls), and be sure to work through the full range of motion.

Flip your seated dumbbell wrist curl in reverse for this forearm, wrist, and hand strengthener. Place the inside of your forearm on top of your thigh with your wrist three-to-four inches over your knee. Use your wrist to curl the weight up and down (ideally for three sets of 20 reps), which will help you prevent future injury in the areas youre working.

From the same starting position as the seated dumbbell reverse wrist curl, hold a weight in your hand with your palm facing up toward the sky. Allow the weight to roll down to the tips of your fingers (but stop it before it rolls off of your hands and onto the floor), then grab it with the tips of your fingers and curl it back up to start.

Another spot youre probably not giving the love it needs? Your feet. Follow along with this stretch sequence, below.

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Grip Strength Is a Good Indicator of LongevityHere Are 9 Hand Exercises to Keep Yours Strong - Well+Good

THE relentless pursuit of the elixir of youth has spurred anti-ageing research in attempts to achieve the triple goals of life extension, namely, the triumvirate of healthy lifespan, rejuvenation and longevity.

Sirtuins are a family of cellular enzymes that are powered by a chemical compound called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). They play an important role in preventing diseases and even reversing some aspects of ageing.

Studies have shown that increased sirtuin activity in mammals has been associated with a delayed onset of age-related diseases and increased longevity.

Increased sirtuin activity appears to inhibit nerve degeneration and reduces the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (such as diabetes mellitus and abnormal lipid levels).

Hence, if sirtuin activity can be increased using compounds that can boost its activity (STACs or Sirtuin Activating Compounds), the use of STACs can potentially help a person stay healthy longer, even if longevity is not affected.

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Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a natural plant phenol STAC found in the skin of red grapes and other fruits such as blueberries and cranberries. Contrary to common belief, red wine contains very little of it. Resveratrol has been shown to have life-extending properties in studies on lower-order species such as yeast and nematodes, but this effect has marginal reliability in higher-order species. Nevertheless, it has been shown to have potentially beneficial effects.

Before you start taking large doses of resveratrol, you may be surprised to know that it is a Janus-faced compound. Low dietary doses may suffice to elicit the biological responses required to optimise the body's defence mechanisms against incipient disease. But at high doses, it behaves in a contrarian manner.

At low doses, resveratrol induces responses that overlap with the female hormone oestradiol. Low-dose effects seen in animal and human studies include beneficial metabolic effects such as more efficient glucose reduction in diabetics, reducing the development of obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, protecting against arterial degeneration, delaying development of neurodegeneration, and improving motor and cognitive functions.

At high doses, resveratrol has an anti-oestrogen effect which suggests that it may reduce the risk of oestrogen-dependent cancers. This Janus-faced hormetic effects of resveratrol may partly explain the French paradox, where there is a reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer in some populations despite their consumption of high-fat diets.

NAD

NAD is an important molecule that is essential for over 500 enzyme reactions in the body which impact metabolism, ageing, cell death, DNA repair, and gene expression. Hence, NAD plays a pivotal role in human health span and longevity and is a necessary substrate for sirtuin enzymatic activity.

In mammalian cells, NAD is mainly generated by the conversion of nicotinamide (a soluble form of Vitamin B3) into nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) followed by its combination with another molecule to form NAD. There is also another precursor, nicotinamide riboside (NR), that is converted by enzymes to NMN in the cells. As this pathway is safe and also the most efficient route for production of NAD, NMN or NR supplementation has been used to increase NAD levels.

Animal studies have shown that NMN supplementation can ameliorate the age-related reduction in NAD production in cells and improve the body's cardiovascular response to ageing. Age-related decrease in arterial elasticity means that the aorta is less able to expand and buffer the increased blood pressure generated each time the heart pumps. With ageing, the production of a pressure-bearing protein, type 1 collagen, in the arterial wall increases, whereas the main protein responsible for the structural integrity and elastic properties of the arterial wall, elastin, decreases. Studies in mice have shown that NMN supplementation was able to reduce stiffness in large arteries by reversing the accumulation of type 1 collagen in arterial walls and improving elastin content.

From the age of 40 years onwards, there is a gradual decline in perfusion of the body tissues resulting in gradual deterioration in body function towards the last decades of life. A consequence of this is cognitive decline.

Optimal brain function is dependent on adequate oxygen and nutrient delivery via minute brain blood vessels (cerebral microvascular circulation). This modulation of brain blood flow in response to increased brain activity is impaired with age, contributing to age-related cognitive impairment. Studies in aged mice given NMN have demonstrated an improvement in the modulation of cerebral microvascular circulation. Animal studies have also shown that NMN can prevent age-related cognitive decline by reducing cell death in areas of the brain that control short- and long-term memory.

Use of NMN was also associated with decrease in the neurodegenerative changes seen in Alzheimer's disease and age-related retinal changes. This age-related decrease in the production of new vessels and a gradual decrease of blood vessels in the microcirculation also result in reduction in muscle mass and diminishing exercise capacity with age. Mice given NMN were able to demonstrate an increase in the production of new vessels in the muscle and an increase in density of small vessels, thereby improving exercise capacity.

Caloric restriction

Caloric restriction (CR) which involves calorie reduction without causing malnutrition, has been associated with an increase in lifespan in some animal studies. In these studies, dietary CR was associated with increased lifespan and reduced disease incidence, especially cancers. However, some studies did not show benefit and, in some mouse strains, CR was associated with shortened lifespan.

Observational studies on humans who have practised extreme CR over many years showed low levels of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Similarly, a human study on CR, the CALERIE study, found that CR participants had lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol.

The study was too short to examine the impact of CR on lifespan. The current conclusion from the National Institute of Aging in the United States is that there is not enough evidence to recommend CR as a therapeutic measure for life extension. Although CR was associated with lower risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, caution is urged as in a study using mouse lemurs on prolonged CR, MRI studies showed that there was more widespread age-related grey matter atrophy in CR animals while only a few regions in the brain showed atrophy in those not on CR.

Life extension

Globally, heart disease and stroke are the two main causes of death in most high-middle and high-income countries. Hence, the first cardinal principle in life extension is to control the risk factors such as blood pressure elevation, cholesterol elevation, sugar elevation and smoking.

The second principle is to have a healthy lifestyle such as keeping the weight within the healthy range and exercising regularly. Both physical exercise and dietary CR result in a significant increase in NAD production and increase sirtuin activity. CR may be an option as part of a weight-reduction regime to keep the weight optimal.

The third principle is to see your doctor regularly to control risk factors.

Finally, among the supplement options, scientific studies favour the use of low-dose resveratrol or NMN as they may potentially provide many health benefits via increased sirtuin activity, although more studies will be required to understand their efficacy in human life extension.

Originally posted here:
Life extension health, rejuvenation and longevity - The Business Times

#PopVultures Ep 39: GOT7 and longevity of pop idol groups

34:01 mins

Synopsis: The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood industries.

In their first episode of 2021, #PopVultures Jan Lee and Sam Jo discuss some K-pop news - the exodus of GOT7 members from their management agency JYP Entertainment. They recap the details of the GOT7 exit, discuss the social media shadiness that went down, and ponder the future of GOT7.

Covering the examples of J-pop boy band Arashi, the changing cast of UK girl group Sugababes, the not-so-harmonious Fifth Harmony, the tragic tale of TLC, and the reunion of Taiwanese boy band 5566, the #PopVultures examine the longevity of pop idol groups, the factors crucial for groups with staying power and reasons for an early demise.

Produced by: Jan Lee (janlee@sph.com.sg)& Yeo Sam Jo (yeosamjo@sph.com.sg)

Edited by: Muhammad Firmann

Subscribe to #PopVultures Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel:https://str.sg/JWad

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Website:http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to:podcast@sph.com.sg

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#PopVultures Podcast: GOT7 and longevity of pop idol groups - The Straits Times

A new, large-cohort study led by the University of Oxford used accelerometers (wrist-worn devices) to accurately record the activity of more than 90,000 participants over a five year period.

The researchers on the study found that physical activity is not only associated with lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but the greatest benefit is seen for those who are active at the highest level.

Over the five-year follow up period, 3,617 of the participants were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (3,305 nonfatal and 312 fatal).

This included 2,220 men and 1,397 women. In the participants, as the amount of moderate and vigorous physical activity increased, cases of cardiovascular disease decreased, with no threshold where the effects of exercise stopped improving cardiovascular health.

READ MORE:How to live longer: Drinking too much can cut your life short by 28 years

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How to live longer: The duration and intensity of exercise that best promotes longevity - Express

Aley: We don't see uncertainty denting demand

Pension risk transfer volumes this year will look similar to those in 2020 as market volatility creates opportunities for schemes able to act fast, according to Willis Towers Watson.

In its annual de-risking report, published today (19 January), the consultancy predicted that buy-in and buyout volumes would top 30bn in 2021, while longevity swap deals would approach 25bn.

Around 24.2bn of bulk annuity deals for 2020 have so far been announced, although Willis Towers Watson said it was aware of at least 26bn announced or that it had advised on, while another 4bn are set to be confirmed within the coming weeks.

Willis Towers Watson said market volatility seen in 2020, which led to "incredibly attractive" insurer pricing as credit spreads widened, could be repeated in 2021 amid continuing pressures from the pandemic and Brexit.

On a similar note, lower than expected rates of mortality improvement in the years to 2020, as well as a growth in the number of reinsures in the market, has contributed to reduced costs of pensioner longevity swap pricing, a trend the consultancy expected to continue.

Managing director in transactions Ian Aley commented: "The pensions de-risking market has proved itself to be incredibly resilient and, while uncertainty will remain in 2021, we don't see this denting the desire and ability for pension schemes to complete risk management transactions.

"It remains to be seen what impact Covid-19 will have on longer-term expectations for mortality rates. For many schemes, the market pricing of longevity will currently look very attractive relative to their funding reserves.

"We therefore expect schemes will continue to look to lock into assumptions which are affordable against their current funding target to reduce future uncertainty as part of their wider hedging programmes."

Willis Towers Watson also predicted an "acceleration" in the superfund or defined benefit consolidation market following the introduction of an interim regulatory regime last year, particularly as Covid-19 financial support unwinds and corporates enter distressed scenarios.

Originally posted here:
Exclusive: Market volatility to spur 30bn of buy-ins and buyouts in 2021 - http://www.professionalpensions.com

A new health book is expected to reveal evidence supporting that Greek Australians are among those living longest lives on the planet.

Author Dr Norman Swan brought up the example speaking about the upcoming publication to 9 Channels Today show.

I started writing this book for millennials because they have a lot of questions to ask about their health[] theyre really interested in nutrition, Dr Swan said before revealing that first generation Greek Australians are the second longest lived people in the world after the Japanese.

But he says the reasons go beyond the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, speaking of a package of stuff.

They have their own herb garden and vegetable garden, theyre cooking fresh and cooking turns out to be really important because its a chemistry set to actually make you fell healthier.

READ MORE: Foraging Greek grandparents gardens for good health

Religion also plays a role, he contends in influencing diet.

What elderly Greek Australians do is they fast about a 100 days a year, but its a vegan fast no meat, or eggs, or dairy and they do live a long time.

Marketed as the ultimate health guide from Australias most trusted doctor, his upcoming book covers a wide range of health topics including nutrition and sex, with the aim of debunking common myths and making it easier for people to lead a healthy living.

Our minds have been filled with things to worry about from insomnia, to screen addiction, to guilt about not eating a paleo diet, to when will my eggs clap out and when will his sperm, to what really can make us live longer better? My aim is to get you to worry less and give you the information thatll allow you to make sensible decisions, whether youre 25 or 75, the author promises.

Dr Swan is a doctor and award-winning journalist with nearly four decades of experience in reporting medical news in Australia.

In the past year, his voice became familiar to millions as the host of the ABCs Coronacast, a podcast breaking down latest news and research on the novel coronavirus, reaching up to 3 million downloads monthly.

READ MORE: Adding life to years: Cooking in Ikaria, the Greek island of longevity

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Greek Australians have second highest longevity in the world, says Dr Norman Swan - Neos Kosmos

Chris Horsley explores the longevity of thermal fluid heaters

For a process heating equipment manufacturer, you might just say thermal fluid heaters are bad for business.They just go on and on and on, and maintenance and service requirements are low, in fact a fraction of the cost of maintaining an equivalent heat output steam plant.Wheres the repeat business?Wheres the big service contracts and money to be made replacing worn parts?Of course, for a customer, this is music to your ears!

Thermal fluid heaters frequently run for 20 years and often longer.Even when the heaters themselves might be at the end of their working life, the pipe work system and other plant is often as good as new, so upgrades are simple and cost effective to implement at any time.

Thermal fluid heating is based on a similar principle to a simple hot water system. It consists of a heater connected to carbon steel flow and return pipework that can provide heat to one or more users or systems.Instead of water running through the pipework, a thermal fluid typically a specialist mineral oil or synthetic based fluid is used as the heat transfer medium.Different fluids can be used to meet specific process heating requirements including high temperature operations and processes requiring heating and cooling thereby making it a very flexible system.

Thermal fluid heaters typically operate at up to 350C at atmospheric pressure and remain pumpable down to minus 20C and lower with special fluids, which makes it a solution suitable for a multitude of applications.

Thermal fluid heaters have rapidly grown in popularity across all industry sectors over the years.This is mainly due to their far-ranging benefits which include their ease of use, compact size, safer operation when compared to steam generators, precise heat control, low exhaust emissions and their energy efficiency.They also operate outside the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations as the fluid is not maintained in the liquid phase by pressure, so statutory inspections are eliminated.This further reduces operating costs and increases plant availability.

When it comes to flexibility in use, thermal fluid heaters often work at high temperatures in a simple closed loop.Compared to a steam system this means no change of state of the fluid, so no condensate and therefore no flash steam losses, no blow down losses or make up water required, no effluent discharge and completely corrosion free operation without the need for expensive chemical treatment.The savings thermal fluid heaters bring are very significant, often up to 50% of the overall cost of running a process heating system.

But one aspect that frequently gets overlooked is the longevity thermal fluid heaters enjoy, which should be a major point when deciding how to heat a process, especially in these uncertain times when many businesses are having to buckle belts that much tighter. With sustainability a key issue, plant longevity is not only about reducing capex, but also reducing wastage and equipment redundancy.

As mentioned, a thermal fluid system should easily serve you 20 or more years without any reduction in productivity as it ages.It would be difficult to find any equipment, process or otherwise, that can match this level of service.Take a car, for example.Assuming the car runs at an average 30mph and covers 200,000 miles before being scrapped it will operate for about 6000 hours in its total life.A Babcock Wanson thermal fluid heater, on the other hand, will usually run for more than 100,000 hours - or the equivalent of 3,000,000 miles with the minimum of service requirements! And thats just looking at heaters with a typical lifespan; Babcock Wanson is still servicing heaters that are more than 40 years old and working away every day quite happily!

Theres no secret elixir for long life when it comes to thermal fluid heaters.Their exceptional longevity is a direct result from their passive nature (there are very few moving parts) and the swapping out of water for a thermal fluid as the heat transfer medium.Unlike water and steam based systems, thermal fluid heaters are unaffected by corrosion caused by water over time, or by ambient temperature where water freezing within pipes leads to costly failures.In fact, most thermal fluids are mineral oil based so are effectively lubricants that help keep the system components protected in use.

However, not all thermal fluid heaters are equal, so it pays to do your homework.Heaters that will best stand the test of time are mostly designed for a downward fired configuration which ensures stress free and unrestricted expansion of the heater coils during normal operation.Also look for a heater that has been designed with a barrier between the hot combustion gases and the outer structure, as this will help provide long heater life as the higher pressure and cooler outer air helps prevent any escape of combustion gases as the plant ages over time.Babcock Wansons TPC and EPC range of thermal fluid heaters, for example, come with an integral, air-cooled outer case that provides this barrier, as well as acting as both a combustion air pre-heater/economiser.Lastly, ensure the heater is fully integrated and has a factory tested control system.

Another key factor is overall emissions. With higher process operating efficiency comes lower total emissions which provides savings in operating costs whilst being much better for the environment.

Its also vital that the thermal fluid heater you decide upon is correctly installed, commissioned and maintained.Thermal Fluid Systems - A Practical Guide for Safe Design, Operation and Maintenancefrom the Combustion Engineering Association (CEA) proffers excellent advice for designers, owners, managers and operators of new and existing thermal fluid heating systems to operate safe and efficient installations. It addresses system design considerations such as choice of fluid, heat source, expansion and deaeration, pumps and pipework, to installation and commissioning and operation and maintenance. Its important to understand how thermal fluid heaters work to ensure you get the most out of your investment, including long life.

With careful system design and careful choice of heater design a thermal fluid system will provide many years of trouble-free ownership, allowing the operator to concentrate on their process needs in the sure knowledge they are getting the best from their process heating investment.

Chris Horsley, is Process Engineering Director at Babcock Wanson

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Longevity of thermal fluid heaters - Engineer Live

COVID-19 has shaken the entire world, causing far and wide social and monetary havoc all over. The most evident and distressing thing is the huge number of lives lost to the pandemic, yet it keeps taking more and more. As authorities keep on trying to wrestle with controlling the pandemic, the lasting effects from this deadly virus still cause irreparable damage to the livelihood of everyone.

Without a doubt, the financial slump is unusual for anything the economy has ever experienced. Over the initial three months of the pandemic, a huge case of joblessness was reported. As the pandemic spreads, a complete shutdown of the economy can be expected.

As agonizing as this scene has been for everyone, it has been particularly going after the older population. While seniors profit through the basic help given through retirement plans, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented uncommon difficulties for this gathering. The most harmful component has been the radically higher fatality for retirement-age people.

Heres how older people have faced higher levels of difficulty and displacement in the face of this pandemic and recession.

Since COVID-19 has affected all different areas of the world, it has gotten to the retirement and nursing homes as well; because of the pandemic related death in these institutions, older people are opting out of this life. Moreover, most nursing homes are not equipped well enough to deal with the pandemic and dont have enough resources available on hand.

People are choosing to stay home and quarantine with their family members instead of spending this difficult time at a care home. The elderly were locked away in senior living centers before this and didnt have any emotional support from the outside, so aging at home will increase interaction between the younger and older generations.

As there has been an increase in the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in nursing homes, this can prove to be a good thing as age segregation is not likely favored by most retirees.

The pandemic is also disrupting our entire lifestyles as we cant socialize or engage in any activities outside the confines of our home. A healthy amount of physical and social activities is responsible for healthy mental and physical health.

Due to being confined to our homes, studies have shown how loneliness is related to causing a decline in our health, leading to depression, heart diseases, and overall cognitive decline; this is especially hard on the older population and can decrease life expectancy.

Most new technology discoveries are meant to be endorsed by the younger generations. That said, the pandemic has caused most tech entrepreneurs to think about the needs of older people at home as well.

There has been a wave of innovation in the tech field, aimed specifically at the needs of the older generation. Telemedicine has made it possible for people to have appointments with their doctors virtually and keep their health in check.

For example, wearable health devices and diagnostic tests have been very helpful in checking blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital signs and have made it easier for baby boomers to combat the effects of this pandemic.

Its inevitable to spend all your time at home, stuck in one place, not allowed to go anywhere, and not re-evaluate the life choices you have made. Due to all this free time at hand, the older generation is opting for a healthier lifestyle. They are making the most of all the idle time they have on their hands.

It has proven that life is short, and we have to make the most of our limited time on this planet. This has caused a lot of people to reassess how they spend their time and explore new and exciting hobbies.

On the other hand, some senior citizens are also feeling closer to nature, religion, and spirituality. They have more time on their hands, so prayer times have increased and people are reflecting more on morality, happiness, and connectedness.

After the re-evaluation of your life choices, its almost impossible not to think about death and make an end of life plans. Older people have been shown a reminder that they are not going to live forever. This has caused them to kick-start, making retirement and aging life plans.

However, this might be a difficult topic for most of us; its a smart choice to analyze all the expenses needed for your after-care and end of life planning. Theres a lot of helpful material online.

As mentioned above, this pandemic has practically forced us to reassess our life choices; it has also stirred up a lot of mixed feelings about retirement plans in the older generation. In fact, both younger and older members of society have started saving up for when they retire.

Due to the major decline in our economy, it has been made clear that its important to cut out extra costs and expenses. Its also best to have a proper budget and savings dedicated to retirement. Moreover, one needs to work longer and smarter, to be prepared for difficult times. Companies have also adapted to remote working and schedules, so its easier for older people.

The pandemic has been responsible for causing intergenerational conflicts among different societies. Its also affected how people belonging to different ages are dealing with this abrupt change of lifestyles.

This has caused us to think about aging from a different perspective. This is because older people have experienced times like this much longer than the rest of us; it has forced us to see how older people are more resilient in times of crisis.

The pandemic has brought people together. This is because, in times of distress and uncertainty, we are reminded of how much we need to stick together. Coronavirus has also helped remove the gap between generations. Its brought everyone closer together, regardless of age, as we are all in this together.

Arslan Hassan is an electrical engineer with a passion for writing, designing, and anything tech-related. His educational background in the technical field has given him the edge to write on many topics.

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How Covid-19 Has Changed Aging and Retirement - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

Grapefruit is a citrus fruit thats rich in the powerful antioxidant lycopene, revealed dietitian Juliette Kellow and nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer.

Regularly eating red grapefruit, specifically, could reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in your body, they said.

Everyone should aim to eat a portion of citrus fruits every single day to increase their lifespan, they added.

Best known for containing vitamin C, which supports the immune system, citrus fruits do far more than just fight infections, they said in their book Eat Better Live Longer Understand What Your Body Needs To Stay Healthy.

They are linked tight everything from protection against heart disease and cancer to slowing down cataract development.

Grapefruit help to lower cholesterol levels. [They] come in pink, red, and blond varieties. Pink and red are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.

READ MORE:How to live longer: Five habits to adopt into your life to increase life expectancy

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Taylor Wilderecently spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about her return to wrestling and took some time to reflect on the opportunities afforded to womens wrestlers and how things are moving forward. The Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament will conclude this Saturday at Hard To Kill, and while we know both teams in the final match, Wildesaid she was also excited for the opportunity thatHavok and Nevaeh have with a potential title win.

Im excited to see Havok and Nevaeh. Nevaehs always been someone who has strengths in tag team wrestling and tag divisions havent really existed for women exclusively outside of IMPACT really, so its interesting to see the angle she takes because from what I know about her on the independents, [Nevaeh] and Havok are real talent enhancers and theyve really helped change the trajectory of womens wrestling on the independents. Im excited to see what they can do with up-and-comers and the staples of the company. I love seeing whats old is new again and whats new is old because its very reminiscent of when I was last there, Wilde explained, and the Knockouts had a very important role on the show. It feels like were getting closer and closer to where we were before the Hogan invasion. [laughs]

Wilde also added that the continued push and diversification of womens wrestling opens up more opportunities once talent steps out of the ring. Wilde pointed to how women used to be aged out of the ring in the past, but new roles and being introduced its an exciting prospect.

Itd be wonderful and it just adds to that diversification of the Knockouts and womens wrestling because thats what weve moved to. Were way out of the Divas era and these women have substance, characters, and adding diversification also adds to the longevity of a womens career whereas before, once you hit the 35-40 range, Wilde said, youre [at a new stage in life], you know, and its a really great time [now] for womens wrestling.

You have Madison Rayne and Renee Young, who have been doing the ringside commentary and the backstage interviews, as well as Gail Kim being an agent. All of these things are really new in the last 5-10 years, but its very inspirational and motivating for not only someone like myself, Wilde said, who is in their golden years as far as wrestling goes, but for all of the up-and-comers, their careers wont be stunted by the time they are 35 or 40. They have much more to look forward to.

Check out what Taylor has been up to onher podcast,Wilde On. Season 2 premieres on Wednesday with Trish Stratus as her first guest.

Read More: Yes, Nevaeh Is Heaven Spelled Backward, But Her Inspiration For It Is Heartwarming

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Taylor Wilde Is Inspired By Renee Young And Gail Kim, Says Diversification Adds Longevity To Womens Careers - Wrestlezone

Thats right, the new generation 500 cannot be bought with an internal combustion engine. Instead its been completely reinvented with new underpinnings and a new look. As an urban car, on paper, the 500 is the perfect model for electrification, so lets find out if it stacks up.

Pretty much everything except for the name is new. Its the first Fiat Chrysler Automobiles model to be built from the ground up as an electric vehicle, so its perhaps unsurprising that it has led with its most iconic car.

That makes it wider and longer than the outgoing model, gets level-two autonomous driving features, a futuristic twist on the classic 500 styling, and two battery size choices with fast charging up to 85kW. Its also offered as both a hatchback and convertible.

Whats under the bonnet?

The powertrain is impressively compact to maximise space in the cabin. Under the bonnet, where an engine would typically live, is a power electronic bay, which incorporates various aspects of the powertrain such as the charger module and power inverter. Beneath it sits the electric drive module, which has the motor and differential. Its output is 115bhp (or 94bhp on the smaller battery version) and 220Nm of torque.

Beneath the cabin sits the battery pack, which is available in 42kWh or 23.7kWh capacities, providing up to 199 and 115 miles of range respectively. The smaller battery can charge at a maximum rate of 50kW, which takes 30 minutes to get to 80% of charge, while the larger one can take up to 85kW, which takes 35 minutes to reach 80%.

Whats it like to drive?

In previous generations, the 500s trump card has always been its style, and while it hasnt been bad to drive, its far from class leading. However, the new 500 feels like a massive step up. Electric powertrains suit city cars down to the ground and this Fiat is no different.

The electric motor doesnt quite have the immediate kick of acceleration of some EVs, but its much more sprightly than a petrol car when driving around town. Its comfortable, too, without suffering from the overly harsh ride some rivals struggle with.

The 500 could have been the worst car ever made and it would still sell by the boatload because Fiat absolutely nailed the retro-modern styling. This new model has seen the most dramatic change yet, because although its unmistakably a 500, its got an ultra-modern edge that would be well-suited to a concept car.

Despite being larger now, its retained the charming dinky proportions we know and love. It has a solid front grille with a prominent 500 logo that should be tacky but has been implemented in a classy way, while the ring light around the oval headlights is a simple, modern yet characterful touch.

Again, the interior feels like its moved up a level. This is partly because the starting price is higher, as is the case with all EVs, so they tend to get more premium materials and style to help justify it. However, while the Fiat doesnt necessarily feel more premium, gone is the clunky, fussy interior of old and in its place is a sleek minimalist dashboard.

It has a simplified oval instrument binnacle design, which is about the only similarity with its predecessor. Now, the centre console is simply a prominent screen on the dashboard where most features are controlled from, as well as a few physical buttons below for the air conditioning and gear selection.

Prices start at 22,495 for the hatchback. There are four trim levels on the hatchback, while the drop-top goes without the entry-level Action trim, which is only available with the smaller battery. Standard equipment includes rear parking sensors, 15-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights, air conditioning and digital instruments. However, theres no infotainment screen you get a smartphone cradle instead.

Step up to Passion and you get the larger battery, cruise control, automatic air conditioning and a seven-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. After this, Icon models get a leather steering wheel, passive entry with a wearable key, 16-inch alloy wheels, and 10.25-inch infotainment screen with sat-nav.

Finally, the top-spec La Prima trim gets extensive extra equipment, including wireless phone charging, leather seats, 360-degree parking sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and a six-speaker sound system.

Reinventing the Fiat 500 was a big ask. But you have to say fair play to the Italians, because they have managed to find everything thats loved about the previous 500 and packaged it up in a modern-looking car with a future-proof electric powertrain.

Theres now more substance to the 500s style, because its great to drive, more spacious and has ultra-low running costs too. Its safe to say this city cars reign of success is likely to continue for a good while yet.

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First Drive: The Fiat 500 EV proves this supermini's unrivalled longevity - Jersey Evening Post