What's the ROI on R&D in aging? New simulation tool, silverlingings.bio, explores geroscience's impact on US GDP growth and individual health

"The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is pleased to announce the release of silverlinings.bio, an interactive report and simulation tool developed by AFAR Scholar-in-Residence Raiany Romanni-Klein, PhD, with support from AFAR, the Amaranth Foundation, and the Methuselah Foundation."

AI tool predicts brain age, cancer survival, and other disease signals from unlabeled brain MRIs

"BrainIAC is a foundation model trained and validated on nearly 49,000 diverse brain MRI scans to identify key neurological health indicators without needing extensively labeled datasets"

Obesity and aging: Baycrest study links inflammation to cognitive decline

"Obesity and older age are strongly associated with low-grade inflammation in the body, a condition that appears closely linked to cognitive decline and dementia."

Worrying about aging may actually age women faster

"Anxiety about growing older, declining health linked to aging-related biological changes"

A rich social environment is associated with better cognitive health outcomes for older adults, study finds

"With awareness growing that lack of social connection may be a health hazard, researchers say it’s important for the public to better understand the connections"

[HEAR YE, SEE YE] Relevant takeaways from CES: Parks Associates

"Parks Associates’ analyst team attended the 58th annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which kicks off the new year in tech every January with over 4,000 exhibitors and close to 150,000 attendees. The agency also hosted its 20th Annual CONNECTIONS Summit at CES, the official smart home partner of the show; there, they discussed the most impactful dynamics shaping the connected home, including AI advancements, the shifting home security market, new approaches to home energy management, the expansion of the multifamily market, and more of potential interest to active-aging management."

[AI, AI, AI] AI and older adults: now and what’s next

"AI technology is on the radar of the labor-challenged care industries, according to tech industry veteran Laurie Orlov. Furthermore, The home care industry is facing a labor crisis,” she said. “The care worker shortage (including doctors, nurses and nursing assistants) is severe and well-documented.” "

[LONG LIVE WOMEN!) Women get their own lane in longevity: GWS

"The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) recently released for purchase its annual Future of Wellness report, forecasting the ideas and trends that will likely transform health and wellness in 2026. At the same time, it released free of charge an overview of the top 10 trends shaping the future of the global wellness economy. First up, Women get their own lane in longevity. Men have long dominated the longevity market, but the future is female, according to the report. In 2026, longevity pivots to women’s healthspan, moving beyond managing menopause symptoms, with interventions tailored to women at every life stage. "

[WHERE AM I?] TV, movies missing leading actors ages 50+

"New AARP research revealed that audiences of all ages want to see on-screen stories that reflect real-life relationships and family dynamics — stories that highlight age diversity in TV and movies. Furthermore, respondents said that on-screen depictions impact how society views getting older. "

[MORE IS MORE] ACE 7 core drivers of healthy living launched

"The American Council on Exercise (ACE) recently launched the ACE 7 Core Drivers of Healthy Living, a new, evidence-based philosophy designed to help health and exercise professionals more effectively support individuals in building sustainable, whole-person focused health. Grounded in behavior-change science and lifestyle medicine, this framework defines seven interconnected lifestyle behaviors that meaningfully influence long-term well being: "

The research team led by Xiaolin Ni and Erping Long introduced a novel concept positioning centenarians as a model of immune resilience in the context of multimorbidity.

"This article provides a systematic analysis of the interplay between multimorbidity and immunosenescence, highlighting immunosenescence as a critical risk factor that contributes to the development of multimorbidity by impairing multiple organ functions through the mediation of chronic low-grade inflammation, termed inflammatory senescence. Concurrently, certain diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, may accelerate immunosenescence, thereby establishing a positive feedback loop and forming a complex pathological network that presents significant challenges for clinical prevention and treatment."

Study finds Alzheimer's disease can be evaluated with brain stimulation

"As individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) move from the mild cognitive impairment stage to moderate and severe dementia, complex awareness deteriorates although lower-level sensory awareness is relatively maintained. Most conscious processes also become more impaired as AD progresses, including attention, working memory, episodic memory and executive function, while unconscious processes, such as procedural or muscle memory, operant conditioning (behavior controlled by consequences), and priming (where the experience of stimulus affects the processing of a similar stimulus) are relatively spared. However, as damage spreads across different cortical regions in dementias such as AD, corresponding aspects of conscious awareness becomes diminished and then lost."

New study links altered cellular states to brain structure

"Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have characterized how cellular senescence—a biological process in which aging cells change how they function—is associated with human brain structure in both development and late life. The study, published January 22 in Cell, provides new insight into how molecular signatures of cellular senescence that are present during development and aging mirror those associated with brain volume and cortical organization."

Grandparenting is good for the brain

"Caring for grandchildren may protect against cognitive decline, study finds"

UC San Diego study cites link between mental health and long COVID in older women

"Older women who have a history of both depression and anxiety had a 78% higher risk of developing long COVID after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, report University of California San Diego researchers in the Jan. 27, 2026 online edition of the journal Menopause."

"Along with protecting against the painful illness, vaccination correlates with lower inflammation, slower epigenetic and transcriptomic aging, and slower overall biological aging in Americans age 70 and older"

Over 1 million estimated to have glaucoma in UK

"Over one million people are estimated to currently have glaucoma in the UK, a figure projected to reach more than 1.6 million by 2060, according to a study led by UCL and Moorfields researchers."

Decline in U.S. nursing home capacity since COVID-19: Rural areas hit hardest

"Though the U.S. population is aging, nursing home capacity has declined nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic began. According to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine this week, one quarter of U.S. counties experienced declines of 15 percent or more, with the greatest declines reported in rural areas."

In patients’ homes, medical students learn what textbooks miss - new study

"A new study shows that year-long home visits with older adults help first-year medical students build stronger communication skills, rethink assumptions about aging, and understand patient care beyond the clinic."

Exploring why adapting to the environment is more difficult as people age

"Brain structures related to shifting between tasks or updating information about the environment show signs of deterioration in older adults as compared to younger adults."

Healthy aging 2026: fresh pork in plant-forward diets supported strength and brain-health biomarkers in older adults

"In an 18-week controlled study featuring fresh lean pork, grip strength and chair-rise performance were maintained without a prescribed strength-training program, alongside improvements in biomarkers linked to metabolic and cognitive aging"

When aging affects the young: Revealing the weight of caregiving on teenagers

"COVID era survey explores care burdens young carers face"

Unveiling the gut–inflammation link: How polyphenol-rich diets promote healthy aging through microbiome and metabolome modulation

"Polyphenols and healthy aging: A nutritional pathway to reduce inflammation"

Younger biological age may increase depression risk in older women during COVID-19

"“Epigenetic age is a biological metric of overall health and may predict mental health responses to unprecedented stressors”"

Worrying about money and food ages the heart faster than traditional risk factors

"Study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings highlights impact of social determinants of health in biological aging"

Theobromine from cocoa linked to slower biological aging

"“Our findings indicate that the reported beneficial links between theobromine intake on health and ageing extend to the molecular epigenetic level in humans.”"

UNM researchers discover new master regulator of tau, a protein implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases

"In a surprising discovery, University of New Mexico researchers have found that OTULIN – an enzyme that helps regulate the immune system – also drives the formation of tau, a protein implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases, as well as brain inflammation and aging."

Stress among older adults linked to worse surgery recovery

"Even mild worries before an operation predicted delirium, pain control, and longer hospital stays"

How does stroke influence speech comprehension?

"People with a stroke-related language disorder have key differences in brain activity compared to healthy controls that may explain their impaired verbal speech processing"

Scientific validity of blue zones longevity research confirmed

"New peer reviewed study, co-authored by AFAR Scientific Director Steven N. Austad, PhD, rebuts recent claims questioning the authenticity of the world’s longest-lived populations"

Reduced cognitive performance in late midlife may predict frailty in older age

"Frailty is a syndrome resulting from age-related decline across multiple organ systems. A new study shows that slower reaction time and lower response accuracy in cognitive tasks are associated with higher levels of frailty. Notably, this association can already be detected in late midlife, among individuals aged 57 to 70 years."

New study identifies key protein driving inflammation with age

"As people age, their bodies develop a dysfunctional immune system, which can leave older adults more susceptible to conditions like sepsis. New research from University of Minnesota researchers reveals how certain immune cells, known as macrophages, stay locked in an inflammatory state during aging in preclinical models. The findings were published today in Nature Aging."

How does age affect recovery from spinal cord injury?

"A new study published on December 23, 2025, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, looks at how age may affect recovery for people with spinal cord injuries."

Heart-brain connection: international study reveals the role of the vagus nerve in keeping the heart young

"The secret to a healthier and “younger” heart lies in the vagus nerve. A recent study coordinated by the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and published in Science Translational Medicine has shown that preserving bilateral cardiac vagal innervation is an anti-aging factor. In particular, the right cardiac vagus nerve emerges as a true guardian of cardiomyocyte health, helping to preserve the longevity of the heart independently of heart rate."

Getting a grip on aging

"Study pinpoints brain region tied to frailty"

Artificial intelligence detects early signs of aging from chest X-rays

"New study finds deep learning model predicts heart, lung, and frailty changes more accurately than DNA-based aging clocks"

Brazil's genetic treasure trove: supercentenarians reveal secrets of extreme human longevity

"Dr. Mayana Zatz and colleagues at the University of São Paulo present ongoing genomic studies of a unique cohort including validated supercentenarians and former holders of world longevity records, among them the current world’s oldest living man (113)"

Can exercise turn back the clock on your brain? New study says yes

"Brain imaging data links regular aerobic exercise to slower brain aging and healthier cognitive outcomes in midlife"

Digital tools can improve dementia care – for people with dementia aging in place and their caregivers

"digital health resources, while still inaccessible for many people, offer many benefits, including improved mental health and social connection."

A more accurate way of calculating the value of a healthy year of life

"Researchers propose a new metric that could help improve the cost-effectiveness of healthcare policies"

[BRAIN BOOST] Grandparenting may protect against cognitive decline

"Helping to care for grandchildren may serve as a buffer against cognitive decline in older adults, according to recent research. “Many grandparents provide regular care for their grandchildren – care that supports families and society more broadly,” said lead researcher Flavia Chereches, MS, of Tilburg University in the Netherlands. “An open question, however, is whether caregiving for grandchildren may also benefit grandparents themselves."

[GET STRONGER] Strength, wellness drive fitness club growth

"The 2026 Global Fitness Report, based on insights from over 10,000 global fitness consumers, reveals a sector that’s thriving – and evolving fast, according to Les Mills, the company that conducted the survey. The report found that today’s fitness consumers are informed, empowered, and looking for more than just physical transformation. They want holistic health, mental wellbeing, and experiences that feel personal and connected."

[SHEROES] Women score higher than men on successful aging

"Successful aging has become important both individually and socially, as many societies are experiencing high proportions of older adults. Because there are no standard criteria to define successful aging, the authors of a recent study created a tool - the successful aging index (SAI) -- which combines metrics and a questionnaire assessing the quality of aging."

[GETTING THE LOWDOWN] Sharp fall in good feelings for aging in Canada

"Canada's National Institute on Ageing (NIA) has released findings from Perspectives on Growing Older in Canada: The 2025 NIA Ageing in Canada Survey, revealing a growing disconnect between how older Canadians want to age and the supports available to them. Now in its fourth year, the survey offers snapshots of the experiences, perspectives and expectations of Canadians ages 50 and older."

[MOVIN' ON UP] Active-adult rental demand to grow in 2026

"NIC MAP, the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) data analytics platform for senior housing and care, expects demand for active adult rental communities to continue to grow in 2026. NIC said the property type appeals to younger or healthier older adults who are ready to downsize into maintenance-free communities with resort-like amenities but who do not yet need or want the care and services provided in traditional senior housing."