Tag: aging

Understanding Longevity: Key Biomarkers for Better Health

August 22, 2025
Portrait of smiling middle easter woman using Pilates ring

Longevity Isn’t About Defying Death. It’s About Enhancing Life.

What if your biological age mattered more than the number on your birthday cake? That’s the promise of longevity markers: biological indicators that reveal how well your body is aging and how you can intervene to live not just longer, but healthier.

Longevity markers are measurable biological signals that reflect your rate of aging, disease risk, and overall vitality. Unlike chronological age, these markers help assess biological age: how well your body is functioning at the cellular, metabolic, and systemic levels.

Key Biomarkers To Watch

HEART & METABOLISM

  • Blood Sugar & Insulin : How your body handles sugar. High levels can signal diabetes risk.
  • Good vs. Bad Cholesterol Ratio: A simple way to gauge heart health.
  • Cholesterol Particle Count: A deeper look at the type of cholesterol that clogs arteries.

INFLAMMATION & CELLULAR STRESS

  • Inflammation Protein: Tells you if your body is fighting hidden inflammation.
  • Immune System Alarm: Signals chronic stress or aging in your immune system.
  • Cell Stress Signal: A marker that shows how hard your cells are working under pressure.

PHYSICAL STRENGTH & MOBILITY

  • Grip Strength: A surprisingly powerful predictor of overall health and longevity.
  • Walking Speed & Balance: Reflects how well your body and brain coordinate movement.
  • Sit-Stand Mobility Test: Measures how easily you can get up and move. An important factor for independence.

GENETICS & HORMONES

  • Alzheimer’s Risk Gene: A genetic clue about brain aging and memory.
  • Cancer Risk Genes: Help to assess your inherited risk for certain cancers.
  • Testosterone & Estrogen Sex Hormones: Affect energy, mood, muscle, and aging.

Add LIfe To Your Years

Longevity isn’t just about adding years to your life, it’s about adding life to your years. By understanding and tracking these key biomarkers, you gain insight into how your body is aging and where you can intervene.

Whether you’re optimizing your diet, refining your exercise routine, or exploring cutting-edge therapies, these markers offer a roadmap to a longer, healthier, and more vibrant life.

Start small. Get curious. And remember: the goal is progress, not perfection.

Understanding the Burden of Alzheimer’s Caregivers

April 10, 2025

The Institute On Aging featured a recent article about the emotional and physical challenges facing Alzheimer’s caregivers. Click the link below to read the article.

Gene Hackman’s passing sheds light on the often-overlooked struggles of caregivers, who dedicate themselves to the relentless demands of supporting loved ones with dementia.

Caregiving

The article covers the Emotional and Physical Toll of Caregiving, Raising Awareness: The Role of Public Figures, and Finding Support: The Importance of Resources.

Read the full article here: The Hidden Toll of Caregiving

George Carlin on Aging: Timeless Comedy Insights

September 26, 2024

The late comedian George Carlin (1937-2008) presents his observations on getting old in America. His commentary on aging is still relevant today.

Carlin was born in New York City and died in Santa Monica, California at the age of 71. Both his parents were immigrants from Ireland.

Laughter and exercise is the best medicine. So keep laughing and working out. There’s plenty of George Carlin’s observational comedy on YouTube to keep you busy. And come back here to learn more about health and fitness.

The Power of Fisetin: A Natural Antioxidant for Health and Longevity

August 15, 2024

Fisetin is a flavonoid and a powerful antioxidant compound found in apples, strawberries, persimmons, kiwis, grapes and onions.

According to a recent study from the University of Minneapolis Medical School and the Mayo Clinic, fisetin removes damaged and aging cells and helps improve health and prolong life.

Read the full article in MedicalNewsToday.com.

Healthy Diet with Less Sugar Is Linked to Younger Biological Age/Study

August 5, 2024

Aging researchers are finally catching up with holistic medicine on the topic of the harmful effects of added dietary sugar.

William Dufty’s book, Sugar Blues released in 1975, is a dietary classic that discusses the prevalence of sugar in the American diet, and its deleterious effect on human health.

The bottom line is to avoid adding sugar to your food, or buying food with added sugar. You’ll have to read food labels and understand the various names for added sugar.

The best way to get sugar is to consume food in its natural state. An obvious example is eating ripened fruit such as a banana. If you combine a ripe banana with milk you’ve got a very sweet drink known as a smoothie. All the sweetener you need is provided by Mother Nature.

Read the entire July 29, 2024 article from UCSF.edu.