ASSEN, Netherlands — Working the night shift can have a damaging effect on your health. In a new study, Dutch researchers discovered that more than half of night-shift workers end up suffering from sleep disorders.
Sleep plays a crucial role in our overall well-being, affecting our mental, physical, and cognitive functions, but for those working night shifts, maintaining a healthy sleep routine becomes a challenge. Researchers from GGZ Drenthe’s Mental Health Institute delved into this issue, exploring how various shift patterns relate to sleep disorders and demographic factors. They uncovered significant connections between different shift schedules and disrupted sleep.
“We showed that compared to working regular shifts during daytime hours, working other shift types is associated with a higher occurrence of disordered sleep, particularly in rotating and regular night shift work,” says study senior author Dr. Marike Lancel, a researcher at GGZ Drenthe’s Mental Health Institute, in a media release. “Of note, 51 percent of people working nights scored positive for at least one sleep disorder.”
Researchers surveyed over 37,000 participants, gathering information on their demographics and shift work patterns, including regular morning, evening, and night shifts, or alternating between shifts. They also used a questionnaire to screen for six common sleep disorder categories.
The findings highlighted that regular night shifts had the most detrimental impact on sleep. Half of night shift workers reported sleeping less than six hours within 24 hours, with 51 percent experiencing at least one sleep disorder, and 26 percent facing two or more.
The study also revealed that male participants slept fewer hours than females, while sleep disorders were more prevalent in women. Younger participants, especially those under the age of 30, were more prone to various sleep disorders despite sleeping shorter hours. Individuals with lower education levels experienced more disrupted sleep due to shift work.
“Because those working night shift will remain de-synchronized with the day-work focused environment they live in, it is unlikely to completely prevent all negative consequences of night work,” explains Dr. Lancel.
Despite some limitations in the study, such as a possible bias towards individuals with existing sleep disorders participating more readily, the findings hold importance. They offer valuable insights for employers in industries where shift work is common, aiding in the development of strategies to mitigate the negative effects of irregular work hours on sleep health.
The study is published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.
MENLO PARK, Calif. — Work’s got you counting sheep? Join the club. Nearly half of Americans attribute their all-too-often sleepless nights to their job, a new study finds.
Researchers at Accountemps, a global staffing firm, commissioned a poll of 2,800 Americans to get a sense of the size of this surprisingly common work problem — one that plagues us long after we’ve left the office.
Is work keeping you up all night? You’re not alone. A new survey finds nearly half of American adults are struggling to get adequate rest thanks to job worries.
The survey showed that 44% of respondents said that they often struggled to get adequate sleep, with high workloads (indicated by 50% of respondents) and business problems consuming their thoughts (48 percent) being the most common culprits.
Twenty-percent of respondents indicated a dispute with a coworker was keeping them up at night, while another 18% was worrying about being fired. Perhaps surprisingly, only 16% said a nightmare boss was ruining their rest.
Interestingly, job-related sleep issues varied widely by city and region of the United States.
Miami residents, for instance, led the pack in terms of sleeplessness with 65% saying they often missed out on shut-eye due to work stress. Coming behind Miami to round out the top five was Nashville (59%), New York (55%), Chicago (54%), and San Francisco (54%).
Minneapolis residents were on the opposite end of the spectrum, with only 24 percent saying that they let work get in between them and a good night’s rest.
Age was another key determinant of sleeplessness. Generally, the older the worker, the less likely they were to be bothered by their professional life late into the night. The difference was considerable when comparing millennials to baby boomers. Nearly 6 in 10 millennials blamed sleep issues on work, while only 3 in 10 respondents over 55 felt the same way.
Finally, gender played a significant role in feeling well-rested: male employees were 25 percent more likely to lie awake at night than their female counterparts.
“Work stressors can often follow you home, but try to check them at the door,” advises Michael Steinitz, Accountemps’ executive director, in a press release. “If you have too much on your plate, schedule time with your manager to discuss possible solutions to alleviate the pressure, such as delegating work to others, adjusting deadlines, or bringing in temporary help.”
To be sure, employers can also benefit from lending a helping hand to all of their employees.
“Employee stress can lead to lower job satisfaction and engagement and higher turnover,” Steinitz explains. “Managers can support their teams by maintaining open lines of communication and planning regular check-ins to discuss workload and other worries.”
Accountemps’ survey, which was conducted by a third-party research firm, interviewed employed adults across 28 major U.S. cities.
New study shows promising results for phytoene in extending lifespan, fighting Alzheimer’s disease
SEVILLE, Spain — In the quest for the fountain of youth, scientists may have stumbled upon an unexpected ally: a colorless compound found in microalgae. A new study reveals that phytoene, a precursor to more well-known carotenoids like lycopene, could have remarkable anti-aging properties.
The research, conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Seville and the University of Kent, used tiny worms called C. elegans as a model organism to investigate the effects of phytoene on aging and age-related diseases. Their findings, published in the journal Antioxidants, suggest that this often-overlooked compound might be a powerful tool in promoting longevity and protecting against oxidative stress and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
Phytoene is a carotenoid, part of a family of pigments that give many fruits and vegetables their vibrant colors. Unlike its more famous relatives such as beta-carotene or lycopene, phytoene is colorless and has largely been ignored in health research. However, this study indicates that it may be time for phytoene to step into the spotlight.
The researchers extracted phytoene-rich compounds from two species of microalgae: Chlorella sorokiniana and Dunaliella bardawil. These tiny aquatic organisms are known for their ability to produce high levels of various carotenoids, including phytoene. The team then tested these extracts, along with pure phytoene, on C. elegans worms to see how they affected various markers of health and aging.
The results were nothing short of impressive. Worms treated with phytoene or phytoene-rich extracts showed increased resistance to oxidative stress, living longer when exposed to a toxic compound called juglone. This suggests that phytoene acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals.
However, the benefits didn’t stop there. The researchers also tested phytoene’s effects on a worm model of Alzheimer’s disease. These genetically modified worms produce a toxic protein called amyloid-beta, similar to what’s found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Remarkably, phytoene and the microalgae extracts reduced the paralysis caused by this protein by 30-40%, indicating a potential protective effect against neurodegenerative diseases.
Perhaps most exciting of all, the study found that phytoene and phytoene-rich extracts extended the lifespan of C. elegans by 10-18.6%. While it’s important to note that results in worms don’t always translate directly to humans, this finding opens up intriguing possibilities for future anti-aging research.
The researchers believe its antioxidant properties play a key role. By neutralizing harmful free radicals, phytoene may help prevent cellular damage that contributes to aging and disease. Additionally, the compound might activate certain cellular pathways that promote longevity, though more research is needed to fully understand these mechanisms.
The study also highlights the potential of microalgae as a sustainable source of health-promoting compounds. Unlike traditional crops, microalgae can be grown quickly and efficiently without the need for large amounts of land or water. This makes them an attractive option for producing functional foods or supplements that could help promote healthy aging in our increasingly older population.
While more research is necessary before we start seeing phytoene supplements on store shelves, this study provides compelling evidence that this overlooked compound deserves further attention.
“These are very exciting preliminary results,” says study co-author Dr. Paula Mapelli Brahm in a statement. “We are looking for funding to continue this line of research and to find out by what mechanisms these effects are produced.”
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers used a variety of techniques to study phytoene’s effects. They grew two species of microalgae and used a special chemical to make them produce more phytoene. Then, they extracted the phytoene using a green solvent and sound waves. To test the effects, they used tiny worms called C. elegans, which are often used in aging research because they age quickly and share many genetic similarities with humans.
The worms were fed bacteria containing either the phytoene extracts or pure phytoene. The researchers then performed several tests, including exposing the worms to a toxic substance to measure stress resistance, using genetically modified worms to study Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, and tracking how long the worms lived under different conditions.
Key Results
The study found that phytoene and phytoene-rich extracts had several positive effects on the worms. When exposed to a toxic substance called juglone, worms treated with phytoene lived 39-53% longer than untreated worms, showing increased stress resistance. In the Alzheimer’s model, phytoene reduced paralysis caused by toxic proteins by 30-40%. Most importantly, worms treated with phytoene or the extracts lived 10-18.6% longer than untreated worms, suggesting a significant effect on lifespan.
Study Limitations
The study was conducted on C. elegans worms, which, while useful for aging research, are very different from humans. Results in worms don’t always translate directly to human biology. Additionally, the concentrations of phytoene used in the study may not be easily achievable through diet alone in humans. Further research is needed to determine if similar effects would be seen in more complex organisms and to understand the optimal dosage and delivery methods for potential human applications.
Discussion & Takeaways
The researchers suggest that phytoene’s effects are likely due to its antioxidant properties and potential activation of longevity-promoting cellular pathways. They note that while other carotenoids have been more extensively studied, phytoene may be just as important for health. The study also highlights the potential of microalgae as a sustainable source of health-promoting compounds.
The authors suggest that phytoene-rich microalgae extracts could be used to develop functional foods or supplements to promote healthy aging. However, they emphasize the need for further research to fully understand phytoene’s mechanisms of action and to explore its effects in more complex organisms.
Funding & Disclosures
The study was funded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the European Regional Development Fund, and the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Some of the authors were supported by postdoctoral fellowships and grants from various Spanish institutions. One of the authors disclosed that they carry out consultancy work for various companies, while the other authors declared no conflicts of interest.
ATHENS, Ga. — Human lifespans are capable of soaring past the current record of 122 years, with people possibly reaching the age of 150, a new study explains. According to a researcher at the University of Georgia, we are “not even close” to reaching the maximum potential lifespan.
The findings are based on an analysis of mortality rates going back more than three centuries across 19 countries. Lead author Dr. David McCarthy describes the implications as “profound.” For most of recorded human history, the average life expectancy has been between 20 and 40 years. Today, humans live to be around 80 years-old.
Improved nutrition, clean water, better sanitation, and the application of medical science have been key to prolonging life. Experts suspect genetic manipulation, calorie restriction, and new medicines may extend life even further.
The team in the study combined reasoning and probability – known as Bayesian theory – to work out potential maximum longevity. Results showed mortality limits have only been postponed in recent years due to records being slow to increase.
“We find cohorts born between around 1900 and 1950 are still too young to break longevity records,” Dr. McCarthy says in the journal PLoS ONE.
“As these cohorts attain advanced ages in coming decades, longevity records may therefore increase significantly. Our results confirm prior work suggesting that if there is a maximum limit to the human lifespan, we are not yet approaching it.”
(Credit: Anna Shvets from Pexels)
So, how long can people really live?
Two years ago, another study found life expectancy has the capacity to almost double, going beyond 150. Those findings were based on blood samples from thousands of British and American participants.
“Whether or not there is a limit to the human lifespan has been a subject of debate for millennia,” Dr. McCarthy continues. “Historical estimates of the maximum possible lifespan strongly suggest it has increased substantially over recorded history.”
The Bible famously records the Hebrews as regarding 80 years as the maximum length of a human life. Around 1,000 years later, the ancient Romans set their official estimate at 100 or 110.
“Modern longevity records are higher still – the current human longevity record is 122 but has remained unchanged since 1997,” Dr. McCarthy reports.
The world record is currently held by Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days-old when she died. The oldest known living person is Maria Branyas of Spain, who is 116. The oldest known living man is Juan Vicente Pérez of Venezuela, age 113.
“We emphasize further that cohorts born before 1950 will only have the potential to break existing longevity records if policy choices continue to support the health and welfare of the elderly and the political, environmental and economic environment remains stable,” Dr. Mccarthy concludes.
“The emergence of COVID-19 and its outsize effect on the mortality of the elderly provides a salutary warning that none of this is certain. If, however, the maximum age does increase as the current mortality experience of incomplete cohorts suggests is likely the implications for human societies, national economies and individual lives will be profound.”
CHICAGO — Has the human lifespan been pushed as far as it can possibly go? Researchers in Chicago are throwing cold water on the idea that people may be able to live dramatically longer lives in the coming decades.
The study, led by S. Jay Olshansky and published in the journal Nature Aging, suggests that the rapid gains in life expectancy seen during the 20th century are now slowing significantly, and radical life extension beyond current levels is unlikely in this century. In simpler terms, scientists believe modern medicine has pushed the human lifespan to around 100 years, but it likely won’t go any higher than that in the future.
“Most people alive today at older ages are living on time that was manufactured by medicine,” says Olshansky, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois Chicago, in a media release. “But these medical Band-Aids are producing fewer years of life even though they’re occurring at an accelerated pace, implying that the period of rapid increases in life expectancy is now documented to be over.”
Throughout the 1900s, life expectancy at birth in high-income countries surged by about 30 years, largely thanks to advances in public health and medicine. This remarkable progress led some scientists and futurists to predict that the trend would continue, with some even suggesting that most babies born today could live to see their 100th birthday.
However, Olshansky’s team found that improvements in life expectancy have actually slowed in the world’s longest-lived populations since 1990. They examined demographic data from eight countries with the highest life expectancies (Australia, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland), along with Hong Kong and the United States, spanning from 1990 to 2019.
The researchers discovered that the pace of life expectancy gains has slowed in every population studied except for people in Hong Kong. Even more tellingly, the most recent decade showed slower improvements compared to the 1990s across the board. In most of these countries, annual increases in life expectancy have dropped below 0.2 years – a far cry from the 0.3 years per year that defined the “radical life extension” of the 20th century.
Scientists believe modern medicine has pushed the human lifespan to around 100 years, but it likely won’t go any higher than that in the future. (Credit: Anna Shvets from Pexels)
Perhaps most surprisingly, the study suggests that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to push life expectancy any higher than it already stands. The researchers found that the reduction in overall mortality needed to raise life expectancy by just one year has actually increased since 1990. In other words, it now takes a larger improvement in survival rates to achieve the same gain in life expectancy.
“Our result overturns the conventional wisdom that the natural longevity endowment for our species is somewhere on the horizon ahead of us — a life expectancy beyond where we are today,” Olshansky continues. “Instead, it’s behind us — somewhere in the 30- to 60-year range. We’ve now proven that modern medicine is yielding incrementally smaller improvements in longevity even though medical advances are occurring at breakneck speed.”
The study also casts doubt on predictions that most people born today will live to 100 and possibly even further. Based on current trends, the researchers estimate that, at most, about 15% of women and 5% of men in any given population will reach the century mark – and even that figure may be optimistic.
Despite the apparent bad news, the Chicago team urges people to stay positive about the future. While their findings may be a roadblock to seeing your 200th birthday, this research isn’t the final word on the subject.
“This is a glass ceiling, not a brick wall,” Olshansky contends. “There’s plenty of room for improvement: for reducing risk factors, working to eliminate disparities and encouraging people to adopt healthier lifestyles – all of which can enable people to live longer and healthier. We can push through this glass health and longevity ceiling with geroscience and efforts to slow the effects of aging.”
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers analyzed life expectancy data and mortality rates from national databases, focusing on countries with the longest-lived populations. They used demographic techniques to calculate various measures of lifespan, including “life table entropy” (a measure of the dynamics of survival patterns) and “lifespan inequality” (which looks at the variability in ages at death). By examining how these measures changed over time, the team could assess whether life expectancy improvements were accelerating, decelerating, or holding steady.
Key Results
The study found that annual increases in life expectancy have slowed since 1990 in nearly all populations studied. The researchers also observed that it’s becoming harder to achieve further gains – the mortality reductions needed to raise life expectancy by one year are now larger than they were in the past. Additionally, the analysis showed that lifespan inequality (the variation in ages at death) has been decreasing, suggesting a compression of mortality into a narrower age range rather than a uniform shift to later ages.
Study Limitations
The study primarily focuses on high-income countries with already long-lived populations, so the findings may not apply to developing nations that still have room for rapid life expectancy gains. Additionally, while the researchers consider potential future medical advances, the unpredictable nature of scientific breakthroughs means long-term projections always carry some uncertainty.
Discussion & Takeaways
The researchers argue that we’re approaching a “second soft limit” to longevity – one that’s less responsive to disease treatment but could potentially be overcome by interventions that slow the biological aging process. They suggest that rather than assuming continued rapid increases in lifespan, policymakers and industries (like insurance and retirement planning) should adjust their expectations. However, they also emphasize that this isn’t a pessimistic view – rather, it’s a celebration of how far human longevity has already come.
Funding & Disclosures
The study received funding from the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The American Federation for Aging Research provided funding for open-access publication. The authors declared no competing interests.
SEATTLE — Close your eyes and imagine the world nearly three decades from now in 2050. What do you picture? Flying cars zooming through the skies? Robot assistants in every home? While the future may hold many technological wonders, there’s still one critical question to answer: what will the overall health of the human population look like? Luckily, a new study has some good news, finding that the average person will also be living longer in the future.
A comprehensive study published in The Lancet used cutting-edge modeling techniques to forecast disease burden, life expectancy, and population shifts for over 200 countries through 2050. It’s a crystal ball gaze at humanity’s health on a global scale.
So what did they find? Let’s start with the good news. Researchers from the Global Burden of Disease Study, an international consortium of experts, projects that average life expectancy will continue to climb in the coming decades, albeit at a slower pace than we’ve seen in the past. Babies born in 2050 can expect to live to around 80 on average if current trends continue. That’s up from a global average life expectancy of about 74 today. The greatest gains are expected in regions currently facing the highest rates of premature death and disability, places like sub-Saharan Africa.
While longer lifespans are certainly something to celebrate, the researchers caution that those extra years won’t necessarily be spent in good health. In fact, the proportion of life spent living with some kind of illness or disability is forecasted to grow. Across all regions, people will be living more years with chronic diseases and injuries than in the past.
What’s driving this concerning trend? In a word, aging. As lifespans extend and fertility rates decline, the world population will get much grayer in the coming decades. The study predicts that by 2050, over 12 percent of people globally will be over the age of 70, nearly double the proportion today. While advancing age is a key risk factor for many chronic diseases, population aging alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
The researchers also point to major ongoing shifts in the types of diseases and injuries that impact human health. While the 20th century was defined by incredible progress against infectious killers like malaria and diarrheal diseases that strike in childhood, the coming decades will be increasingly dominated by non-communicable diseases more commonly associated with older age – things like heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.
Globally, the leading causes of premature death and disability in 2050 are forecasted to be ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic lung diseases, with common infections continuing to fall in the rankings. This changing disease landscape reflects not only an aging population but also shifting lifestyles and environments, with factors like obesity, unhealthy diets, and air pollution taking an increasing toll.
Of course, these are just projections based on current trends, not a definitive vision of our fate. The researchers stress that the future of health is still very much in human hands. To illustrate this, they modeled some alternative scenarios, imagining what 2050 might look like if we made dramatic progress in key areas.
For example, in an optimistic scenario where exposure to environmental risks like unsafe water and household air pollution is eliminated by 2050, over 57 million early deaths could be prevented compared to the “business as usual” forecast. Likewise, dramatically reducing behavioral risks like smoking and obesity could avert over 400 million cumulative early deaths. A scenario of “moon shot” improvements in childhood nutrition and vaccine coverage showed more modest but still notable impacts.
Achieving changes of this magnitude is certainly a tall order that would require major societal shifts and investments. However, the modeling suggests that changing our trajectory is possible with coordinated, ambitious efforts. In contrast, the researchers caution that if efforts to continue recent progress against infectious diseases were to falter, the forecasts of improved health would quickly fall apart, especially in the most vulnerable populations.
So, where does this leave the world? The study authors say there’s both promise and peril on the horizon.
The world has made tremendous strides in human health and longevity, but we can’t rest on those laurels. Humanity in 2050 may enjoy longer lifespans on average but also more years spent coping with chronic conditions if current trends continue without change.
Changing that trajectory isn’t impossible, but it will take serious work. At the individual level, that means doubling down on the age-old pillars of health – things like eating well, staying active, avoiding smoking, and keeping up with preventive care. At the societal level, it demands policies that make healthy choices accessible and appealing for all, coupled with tireless efforts to develop new ways to predict, prevent, and treat disease.
The journey to 2050 and beyond will no doubt hold many surprises, but one thing is clear: the future of human health isn’t fixed.
Medical accounts of red wine headaches go back to Roman times, but the experience is likely as old as winemaking – something like 10,000 years. As chemists specializing in winemaking, we wanted to try to figure out the source of these headaches.
Many components of red wine have been accused of causing this misery – sulfites, biogenic amines and tannin are the most popular. Our research suggests the most likely culprit is one you may not have considered.
Sulfites have been a popular scapegoat for all sorts of ailments since it became mandatory in the 1990s to label them on wines in the U.S. However, not much evidence links sulfites directly to headaches, and other foods contain comparable levels to wine without the same effects. White wines also contain the same amount of sulfites as red wines.
Your body also produces about 700 milligrams of sulfites daily as you metabolize the protein in your food and excrete it as sulfate. To do so, it has compounds called sulfite oxidases that create sulfate from sulfite – the 20 milligrams in a glass of wine are unlikely to overwhelm your sulfite oxidases.
Some people point the finger for red wine headaches at biogenic amines. These are nitrogenous substances found in many fermented or spoiled foods, and can cause headaches, but the amount in wine is far too low to be a problem.
Tannin is a good guess, since white wines contain only tiny amounts, while red wines contain substantial amounts. Tannin is a type of phenolic compound – it’s found in all plants and usually plays a role in preventing disease, resisting predation or encouraging seed dispersal by animals.
But there are many other phenolic compounds in grapes’ skin and seeds besides tannin that make it into red wines from the winemaking process, and are not present in white, so any of them could be a candidate culprit.
Tannin is also found in many other common products, such as tea and chocolate, which generally don’t cause headaches. And phenolics are good antioxidants – they’re unlikely to trigger the inflammation that would cause a headache.
A red wine flush
Some people get red, flushed skin when drinking alcohol, and the flushing is accompanied by a headache. This headache is caused by a lagging metabolic step as the body breaks down the booze.
The metabolism of alcohol happens in two steps. First, ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde. Then, the enzyme ALDH converts the acetaldehyde to acetate, a common and innocuous substance. This second step is slower for people who get flushed skin, since their ALDH is not very efficient. They accumulate acetaldehyde, which is a somewhat toxic compound also linked to hangovers.
Leftover acetaldehyde not converted into acetate can cause hangover symptoms. Compound Chemistry, CC BY-NC-ND
So, if something unique in red wine could inhibit ALDH, slowing down that second metabolic step, would that lead to higher levels of acetaldehyde and a headache? To try to answer this question, we scanned the list of phenolics abundant in red wine.
We spied a paper showing that quercetin is a good inhibitor of ALDH. Quercetin is a phenolic compound found in the skins of grapes, so it’s much more abundant in red than white wines because red grape skins are left in longer during the fermentation process than white grape skins.
Putting enzymes to the test
Testing ALDH was the next step. We set up an inhibition assay in test tubes. In the assay, we measured how fast the enzyme ALDH breaks down acetaldehyde. Then, we added the suspected inhibitors – quercetin, as well as some other phenolics we wanted to test – to see whether they slowed the process.
The chemical structure of quercetin, which may cause red wine headaches. Johannes Botne, CC BY-SA
These tests confirmed that quercetin was a good inhibitor. Some other phenolics had varying effects, but quercetin glucuronide was the winner. When your body absorbs quercetin from food or wine, most is converted to glucuronide by the liver in order to quickly eliminate it from the body.
Our enzyme tests suggest that quercetin glucuronide disrupts your body’s metabolism of alcohol. This disruption means extra acetaldehyde circulates, causing inflammation and headaches. This discovery points to what’s known as a secondary, or synergistic, effect.
These secondary effects are much harder to identify because two factors must both be in play for the outcome to arise. In this case, other foods that contain quercetin are not associated with headaches, so you might not initially consider quercetin as the cause of the red wine problem.
The next step could be to give human subjects two red wines that are low and high in quercetin and ask whether either wine causes a headache. If the high-quercetin wine induces more headaches, we’d know we’re on the right track.
So, if quercetin causes headaches, are there red wines without it? Unfortunately, the data available on specific wines is far too limited to provide any helpful advice. However, grapes exposed to the Sun do produce more quercetin, and many inexpensive red wines are made from grapes that see less sunlight.
If you’re willing to take a chance, look for an inexpensive, lighter red wine.
Older couple walking down street. (credit: FORMAT arw on Unsplash)
Don’t expect to see much gain in life expectancy over the next few decades. According to an analysis published in the journal The Lancet, life expectancy in the United States is expected to increase by just 2.1 years over the next three decades. Specifically, that means going from 78.3 years in 2022 to 80.4 years in 2050. These predictions come from a forecasting model from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
Researchers assessed the impacts of hundreds of health risks and diseases in individual states and the country. They compared these to more than 200 other countries, including high-income and some middle-income countries. The U.S. is expected to lose ground in life expectancy gains, dropping behind most other wealthy nations.
In 2022, the U.S. ranked 49th in overall life expectancy among the 204 countries studied. That is expected to fall to 66th in 2050, according to the IMHE analysis.
Life expectancy among women is predicted to improve less than that of men, reducing the gap between the sexes. According to the rankings, women are expected to drop from 51st to 74th and from 51st to 65th among men. The slight increase in life expectancy is expected to be attributable to a decline in a few leading causes of death, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
The researchers assert that addressing a few key risk factors could alter the expectations for the better. These include reducing obesity and decreasing rates of smoking and drug use disorders. The scientists predict that these improvements could add six months to overall life expectancy by 2050.
“In spite of modest increases in life expectancy overall, our models forecast health improvements slowing down due to rising rates of obesity, which is a serious risk factor to many chronic diseases and forecasted to leap to levels never before seen,” says Christopher Murray, director of IHME and co-senior author of the new research, in a media release. “The rise in obesity and overweight rates in the U.S., with IHME forecasting over 260 million people affected by 2050, signals a public health crisis of unimaginable scale.”
GLP-1 drugs are showing promise in affecting rates of diabetes and diabetes control, but their use in weight reduction is too new to predict their effects on life expectancy. These were not calculated into the prediction.
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control indicate that deaths from drug overdose have started to decline from record levels but remain high. IMHE predicts that drug use disorders and overdose deaths will increase between now and 2050. In fact, the institute estimates that the mortality rate from drug use disorders will be the highest in the world – more than twice as high as the second-highest country, which is Canada.
“The stark contrast that’s forecasted in the next 30 years comes after a concerted effort by federal, state, and local government agencies and health systems launched after the opioid crisis was declared a public health emergency in 2017. The opioid epidemic is far from over, and greater effectiveness and continued expansion of programs to prevent and treat drug use are still needed,” writes Ali Mokdad, IHME professor and lead author of the report.
If the United States eliminated risk in several key areas, there would be 550,000 fewer deaths in the U.S. in 2050, and life expectancy would increase by nearly four years. This change would align with mortality rates in Canada. Those key areas include childhood nutrition and vaccination, environment, metabolic risks, and high-risk behaviors.
A doctor’s recommendation
This life expectancy does not have to be your life expectancy. These are averages. Don’t be average. Instead, do what you have to do to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Move your body. Move your mind. Build supportive relationships. Have as much fun as possible. Cultivate gratitude. Most importantly – give. Give of your time, your resources, your skills and talents. You’ll get more life out of life and may extend your life.
Blue de Chanel (Photo by Volodymyr Plysiuk on Shutterstock)
The world of luxury fragrances offers an intoxicating blend of artistry and chemistry, where master perfumers craft complex scents that evolve throughout the day. While designer colognes can command prices upward of $300 per bottle, these prestigious fragrances combine rare ingredients, innovative extraction methods, and carefully balanced note progressions that justify their premium positioning. Whether you’re drawn to woody orientals, fresh citrus, or spicy aromatics, today’s high-end colognes deliver sophisticated scent profiles that make a lasting impression. Here’s our curated selection of the most exceptional luxury fragrances worth your investment.
Top 7 Luxury Colognes That Smell Amazing
1. Creed Aventus
Creed Aventus Cologne
Creed Aventus reigns supreme with its confident blend of pineapple, apple, bergamot, and musk with a touch of smokiness. It’s a versatile powerhouse, radiating freshness and sophistication, day or night. Veranda reviewers say they would even go as far as to place bets on this bottle for attracting a significant other.
It is a very complex scent that has a long list of scent notes that swirls together for the perfect blend. Luxatic offers up high praise for this cologne, and say that it is perfect for a man with a “well-defined masculine edge” who enjoys the finer things in life. According to Luxury Columnist, Aventus is “the pinnacle of luxury in men’s fragrances.” They say it matches its price point in giving off an air of sophistication and class.
2. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 (franciskurkdjian.com)
Since 184, this iconic scent has been produced using 24 karat gold at temperatures of 540 degrees Fahrenheit in molten glass, hence its name. Although eau de parfums are typically for women, this is a gender-neutral fragrance that compliments men and women alike. Sweet saffron dances with smoky oud in Baccarat Rouge 540. Luxurious warmth radiates with each spritz, leaving a trail of undeniable sophistication. Imagine instant allure in a bottle. Veranda says men are guaranteed to feel expensive with a spritz of this product.
According to the Elite Traveler, this complex fragrance is not for everyone. They say it is “on the candy shop scale of sweetness” for a floral scent. So, if you look for sweetness in your cologne, try this one out.
Rich Lifestyle describes Rouge 540 as “luxurious and unforgettable” and that it is sure to leave a lasting impression at any formal event.
3. Tom Ford Private Blend Soleil Blanc
Tom Ford Private Blend Soleil Blanc (tomford.com)
Another gender-neutral fragrance, Soleil Blanc sun-kissed coconuts and creamy florals whisper luxury. It’s your private island in a bottle, an alluring escape with every spritz. The Trend Spotter says Tom Ford “is synonymous with modern luxury, elegance, and seduction” across the world. The Soleil Blanc fragrance follows suit with the brand’s reputation.
Luxury Columnist adds that the Soliel Blanc evokes sunny days and ocean breezes. The scent profile includes spicy notes of cardamom, pink pepper, tonka ban, Egyptian jasmine, coconut, and bergamot with a little pistachio.
Man of Many details that with Tom Ford’s luxury reputation the highest standards of quality can be expected. “The goal was to put an island paradise inside a bottle–the sultry scent alone spells mission accomplished. An expensive cologne for men it is, what else would you expect from a brand like Tom Ford, renown for making luxurious high-end products,” they write in their review.
4. Dior Sauvage
Dior Sauvage’s fresh citrus bursts into peppery warmth, radiating effortless confidence. A versatile chameleon, it’s both boardroom sharp and weekend-ready, making it a luxury crowd-pleaser. Rich Lifestyle describes this designer scent as a modern classic. “This fragrance embodies a perfect balance of freshness and sensuality. With its top notes of bergamot, middle notes of lavender and pepper, and base notes of patchouli and cedar, Dior Sauvage offers a captivating scent that is suitable for any occasion,” they write.
Beauty Affairs offers that this men’s fragrance is a manly musk “that embodies raw masculinity” and has a magnetic effect on those around the wearer.
SK Lifestyle states that they love this cologne for its winter-time appeal. The combination of fresh bergamot with sharp black pepper and patchouli makes it perfect for cold weather.
5. Clive Christian X Masculine Edition
Clive Christian X Masculine Edition
Clive Christian X evokes exclusivity with opulent ingredients, rich history, and bespoke customization. Each bottle whispers luxury, making it a coveted fragrance for those seeking a unique olfactory crown jewel. Launched in 2001, Man of Many claims that the packaging alone is impressive and matches what’s inside. Expect notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and cedarwood.
The Trend Spotter describes this exclusive cologne’s bouquet: “At first, the rare, decadent scent of cardamom is complemented by bold pink pepper, ginger and bergamot, awakening and attracting all those you encounter. As the day and the fragrance progresses, the smooth scent of orris will present itself, finally making way for the rugged essence of vetiver, tree moss, and cinnamon.”
Luxatic likes the “bold bursts of rhubarb, pineapple and bergamot” and says it demands respect which is fitting for the brand’s reputation.
6. Le Labo Santal 33
Santal 33’s smoky-sandalwood allure dances from bold to comforting, captivating men with its gender-bending mystique. A versatile icon, it’s both boardroom confidence and bonfire whisper in one sleek bottle. According to Veranda, this bottle “has the potential to be a relationship ruiner” because women and men can both wear it and will certainly be fighting over it. This is the scent that was referenced in HBO’s “The Flight Attendant.” Expect cardamom, iris, violet and ambrox in its scent profile.
Man of Many asserts that this fragrance is popular but pricey, “[Le Labo Santal 33] Often falls onto the top 10 perfume for men lists thanks to its warm, musky and addictive smell. Yes, it’s an expensive cologne but my god will this niche fragrance for men have you smelling a million dollars?”
7. Chanel Bleu de Chanel
Bleu de Chanel Cologne
Crisp citrus meets woody warmth in Bleu de Chanel’s alluring aura. It is timeless elegance bottled, exuding sophistication and confidence with every spritz. Veranda describes it as, “Sophisticated and masculine with hints of amber, cedar and energizing citrus, Chanel’s Bleu de Chanel represents luxury fragrance-making at its finest. The solution is strong and long-lasting, yet inviting and inoffensive—a mere whisper of scent that permeates the air just enough to have people turning their heads to catch another whiff.”
Rich Lifestyle assures that Chanel is a classic for a reason. The brand is renowned for exceptional quality, perfectionism, and high-end production. You can’t go wrong with this esteemed designer brand.
An Akita Inc laying in the grass (Photo by Pixel-Shot on Shutterstock)
Throughout human history, dogs have been our steadfast companions, with some breeds tracing their lineages back thousands of years to the earliest days of domestication. While modern breeds like Golden Retrievers and Labradoodles are relatively recent developments, several ancient dog breeds have maintained their distinctive characteristics across millennia, offering us a living window into our ancestors’ earliest relationships with canines.
Recent archaeological discoveries in Alaska have shed new light on this ancient bond, revealing that humans were sharing salmon with wolf-like canids as early as 12,000 years ago—about 2,000 years earlier than previously thought in the Americas. These findings, based on chemical analysis of ancient canine bones, suggest that food sharing may have been a crucial factor in the early stages of dog domestication, as these animals adapted to rely on human-provided meals rather than hunting their natural prey.
While the distant wolf-like canids mentioned above are thankfully not found in our households today, what are the oldest dog breeds that still exist? We researched through expert lists of ancient dog breeds to find out the consensus. Let us know if we missed one in the comments below.
The List: Oldest Dog Breeds, According to Experts
1. Basenji
Basenji (Photo by Edvinas Bruzas on Unsplash)
The Basenji’s fascinating history stretches back to ancient Africa, with Dutch.com noting evidence of these unique dogs on cave paintings dating to 6000 B.C. and artifacts from 3000 B.C. These skilled hunters originally helped their owners by independently gathering food, though this self-sufficient nature meant they required dedicated training.
While they possess remarkable intelligence, Canine Campus cautions that Basenjis have a stubborn streak and need plenty of exercise to stay content. Their strong hunting instincts make them flight risks – they’re known to dart through open doors and scale fences, so keeping them leashed is essential.
Rather than barking, A-Z Animals says Basenjis produce a yodel-like sound. They’ve earned the nickname “jumping up and down dog” for their vertical leaps in tall grass. They also display notably feline characteristics, particularly in their fastidious grooming habits.
2. Akita Inu
Akita Inu (Photo by Mikhail Vasilyev on Unsplash)
These cute fluff balls descend from ancestors that lived long ago. Archaeological evidence suggests the Akita Inu’s ancestor, the Matagi-Inu, existed between 8,000 B.C. and 200 B.C., according to Animal Hearted. While smaller than today’s Akitas, these early dogs established the foundation for one of Japan’s most revered breeds.
A-Z Animals explains that these powerful members of the Husky family were originally bred to hunt formidable prey like wild boar, deer, and bear in northern Japan’s harsh winters. Their natural disposition combines fearlessness with a calm, dignified demeanor, making them versatile enough to serve as therapy dogs, police dogs, and family companions.
The Japanese Akita holds a special place in its homeland’s culture. SpiritDog notes that they are considered national monuments, symbolizing good health, happiness, and longevity. Distinguishable from their American cousins by their fox-like features (compared to the American Akita’s bear-like head), these dogs are celebrated for their unwavering loyalty and courage.
3. Afghan Hound
Afghan Hound (Photo by Arve Kern on Unsplash)
The Afghan Hound’s origins trace back thousands of years to the mountainous regions spanning modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. K9 of Mine writes that they served as both hunting dogs and status symbols, prized for their remarkable speed and agility.
The breed’s ancient lineage is so significant that, according to The Scotsman, Christian legend places Afghan Hounds aboard Noah’s ark. As hunters, they excelled at pursuing swift prey like antelopes and leopards.
Their place in today’s culture has changed quite a bit, like most breeds. A-Z Animals explains how British soldiers later introduced these dogs to the U.K. as show dogs, where their distinctive flowing coats became legendary. While adaptable to various climates and living situations, these sociable dogs require extensive grooming and exercise to thrive in family settings.
4. Saluki
Saluki (Photo by Artem Sapegin on Unsplash)
Tracing back through the sands of time, Dutch explains that the Saluki’s exact origins remain mysterious. Archaeological evidence, however, places these elegant dogs in the Middle East at least 5,000 years ago, where they were cherished companions of nobility, as depicted in ancient artwork and artifacts.
It can be challenging to pinpoint ancient breeds’ origins. A-Z Animals notes that while the Guinness Book of World Records dates them to at least 329 B.C., cave paintings resembling Salukis stretch back an impressive 9,000 years.
From pharaohs to modern families, these dogs have maintained their distinctive traits across millennia. According to Pet Keen, their legendary speed and hunting prowess made them favored companions of ancient royalty, though today they thrive best with active families who can match their energetic nature.
5. Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiff (Photo by Keenan Barber on Unsplash)
Deep in the mountains of Tibet, a breed emerged that would shape the future of guardian dogs. According to Animal Corner, the Tibetan Mastiff’s history stretches back roughly 5,000 years, serving as both hunters and royal guardians in ancient Tibet.
Their legacy runs even deeper than initially thought. The Scotsman reports a groundbreaking study suggesting these dogs might be the first domesticated breed, dating back approximately 58,000 years, and likely served as ancestors to all modern Mastiff breeds. Their primary role was protecting Tibetan tribes’ livestock from formidable predators like wolves and bears.
Standing guard in modern homes with the same majestic presence as their ancestors, these dogs continue to impress. Petland describes them as having a lion-like alertness and magnificence, though notes their intelligence comes with a stubborn streak that responds best to early training.
 100vw, 1600px” data-lazy-src=”https://studyfinds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/35p5-z3zyzo-1.jpg” /><figcaption class=)
Afghan Hound (Photo by Arve Kern on Unsplash) 100vw, 1500px” data-lazy-src=”https://studyfinds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ugg-eifzy0c-1.jpg” /><figcaption class=)
Saluki (Photo by Artem Sapegin on Unsplash)