Frequent museum visits tied to reduced cellular aging, research finds

People who regularly visit museums or participate in creative activities may be aging more slowly on a biological level, according to a new study from the United Kingdom.

Researchers from University College London analyzed data from more than 3,500 adults and found that people who frequently engaged in arts and cultural activities showed signs of slower biological aging in several DNA-based measurements.

The findings were published in the journal Innovation in Aging.

CREATIVE HOBBIES KEEP THE BRAIN YOUNG, STUDY FINDS — HERE ARE THE BEST ONES TO PURSUE

The study examined activities including painting, photography, dancing, singing, visiting museums and attending cultural events or historic sites.

Researchers compared participation in those activities with "epigenetic clocks," scientific tools that examine chemical changes in DNA over time.

Adults who participated more often, and in a wider variety of activities, tended to show slower aging scores compared to people who rarely engaged in arts or cultural experiences.

ANTI-AGING BENEFITS LINKED TO ONE SURPRISING HEALTH HABIT

The association appeared even stronger among adults over age 40.

Researchers also noted that the effect sizes were comparable to those linked to physical activity, one of the most widely studied behaviors associated with healthy aging.

Jessica Mack, a health and wellness expert and founder of The Functional Consulting Group who was not involved in the study, said the findings reflect a growing understanding that health is influenced by more than exercise and nutrition alone.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

"Arts and cultural engagement may be associated with slower epigenetic aging, with effects comparable in some measures to physical activity," Mack told Fox News Digital.

She said activities such as visiting museums and engaging with music or art may help reduce stress, improve emotional regulation and increase social connection.

"These are not ‘extra’ lifestyle activities," Mack said. "They may be deeply connected to how the body manages inflammation, stress hormones, mood and overall resilience."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

Mack added that people experiencing stress, social isolation, retirement or caregiving responsibilities may especially benefit from meaningful cultural engagement.

Experts cautioned, however, that the study does not prove arts engagement directly slows aging.

"This is an observational study, not an experiment," Professor Steve Horvath of UCLA, a longevity researcher and pioneer in epigenetic aging research who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"So when researchers find that the people who go to museums have younger epigenetic age, we cannot tell whether the museum visits slowed their aging, or whether their slower aging is what allowed them to keep visiting museums," he said.

Horvath said both explanations may be true to some degree, though he described the research as "methodologically careful" and worthy of further study.

The findings remained consistent even after accounting for factors such as smoking, income, body weight and other lifestyle habits.

He added that regardless of whether arts engagement is directly slowing biological aging, staying socially and mentally active is still associated with healthier aging overall.

"The prescription is the same," he said. "Keep going."

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/pc9SKlB

Read More

Fitness influencer says one simple habit can help anyone get back in shape

Fitness influencer and trainer Mark Langowski, known on social media as @bodybymark, hosted a pushup and plank competition in New York City this week, where he urged the public to get up and get moving.

On his platform of nearly two million Instagram followers, Langowski asks fit people to share their workout routines. He was able to meet more in-shape New Yorkers at his Washington Square Park meet-up, in partnership with Oikos yogurt on May 12.

A male and a female winner who achieved the most pushups or held a plank the longest were gifted $500 each.

CAN YOU HOLD A PLANK LONGER THAN OTHERS YOUR AGE? FOX HOSTS TEST THEIR CORE STRENGTH

Besides the cash prize, the inspiration was to get more people moving, Langowski shared during an interview with Fox News Digital.

"[It’s] a way to encourage strength and overall fitness in New York City and all around the country," he said.

"We got together and we're doing a plank competition, pushup competition. We had a guy just do 111 pushups. We're just getting people moving."

FITNESS EXPERT REVEALS SIMPLE RULE TO GET IN SHAPE WITHOUT DREADING THE GYM: 'JUST MOVE'

Langowski said the attributes of a great competitor include strength, humility and confidence.

"The people who ... did the most, they didn't say they were going to do the most," he said. "And there were other people who said they could do 150, and they did 70."

Having a bit of humility helps make a good competitor, the trainer added.

Pushups and planks mark a "good general baseline" for measuring fitness level, according to Langowski. Some other basics include pull-ups, squats and endurance challenges, like running a mile — the kind of basics included in an elementary school fitness assessment.

For those who haven't yet mastered these basics but want to get in better shape, Langowski shared some advice on how to get started.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

"Get with a trainer or someone who knows how to progress you," he advised. "A lot of people are like, 'I can't do a pushup, so I'm never going to do one.’ That's not the way."

Langowski recommends starting with pushups on your knees or against a wall, then gradually progressing to standard pushups by moving onto your toes and lowering yourself fully to the ground before pushing back up.

"You'll be surprised after you do that for a couple weeks, a couple months, a couple years – you're going to be able to do a lot," he said. "Nobody was born being able to do 111 pushups. They put in the work and they started somewhere."

The trainer noted that in addition to practicing, it's just as important to give the body rest and to support muscle growth with proper protein intake and an overall healthy diet.

But perhaps the most crucial step toward getting in shape, according to Langowski, is having the motivation to get started

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"I know that's easy for me to say – I've been in fitness and been relatively fit most of my life," he said. "And I know a lot of people are sitting on the couch and they either feel sorry for themselves or they're going through a tough time … You’ve just got to get out there."

The trainer suggested starting with a simple walk — even just around the block — with no gym equipment required.

"You don't need an expensive gym membership to get in good shape," he said. "Most of the people that I stop on the street, they don't have a gym membership at all. They do it in their living room."

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"And that's where you can do the exercises I mentioned – the squats, the lunges, the pushups," Langowski went on.

"So, I would encourage people just to start, but also to get some friends or get a trainer, someone to support you and do it safely."

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/9e02wnQ

Read More

Ancient Chinese movement shows promise for reducing blood pressure at home, study says

Researchers have shed fresh light on how a simple, centuries-old Chinese practice could be almost as effective as some medications in lowering blood pressure.

Baduanjin is a form of exercise that’s been widely practiced in China for at least 800 years. It involves a series of eight slow movements, gentle breathing and meditation — and typically takes only about 10 minutes to complete.

In a clinical trial, researchers studied 216 adults age 40 and older with Stage 1 hypertension. Over the course of a year, participants performed either baduanjin, self-directed exercise or brisk walking.

SIMPLE NIGHTLY HABIT LINKED TO HEALTHIER BLOOD PRESSURE, STUDY SUGGESTS

Researchers found that participants who practiced baduanjin five times per week experienced lower blood pressure within three months. 

The results were "comparable to reductions seen with some first-line medications," they wrote in their report published by the American College of Cardiology.

Baduanjin also showed "comparable results and safety profile to brisk walking at one year," the researchers further reported.

"Given its simplicity, safety and ease at which one can maintain long-term adherence, baduanjin can be implemented as an effective, accessible and scalable lifestyle intervention for individuals trying to reduce their [blood pressure]," said the senior author of the study, Jing Li, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Matthew Saybolt, medical director of the Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Structural Heart Disease Program, said he was surprised by an aspect of the study’s results.

ANTI-AGING BENEFITS LINKED TO ONE SURPRISING HEALTH HABIT

"I was biased and expected that higher intensity exercise like brisk walking would have resulted in greater improvement in blood pressure than baduanjin, but the effects were the same," Saybolt told Fox News Digital. (He was not affiliated with the study.)

Dr. Antony Chu, clinical assistant professor at Brown University’s Warren Alpert School of Medicine, was born and raised in the U.S. to immigrant parents — his mother is from Hong Kong and his father is from Taiwan.

Having spent a lot of summers in Asia, Chu told Fox News he experienced "the best of both worlds" concerning Eastern and Western medicine, including exposure to the benefits of baduanjin.

"[These researchers] are taking a lot of things that have been commonplace for many, many centuries or millennia and then just applying mathematical modeling and statistical analysis to sort of give [them] some credibility," Chu said.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"Western medicine is reactionary," Chu also said. 

He compared the philosophies to a house on fire: Eastern medicine practitioners are more invested in preventing the fire, whereas Western medicine is more focused on "all those things that it would need to do to try to put that fire out," he said, sharing his opinion.

Left untreated, high blood pressure has dangers that are "too numerous to count," Saybolt said. The risks include increased risks of stroke, heart attack, atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. 

Baduanjin, Chu said, is effective at reducing blood pressure, which he likened to "the water pressure and the pipes of your house," by calming the nervous system and reducing stress.

SIMPLE DAILY HABIT MAY HELP EASE DEPRESSION MORE THAN MEDICATION, RESEARCHERS SAY

"People are totally stressed out," Chu said. "And stress reduction is huge."

Saybolt said the study offers hope for people with hypertension — "and that hope doesn’t immediately have to include pharmaceuticals."

Saybolt added that he’s always advocated for lifestyle modifications, including healthy diet and exercise, "as key therapies for treatment of diseases and to improve longevity."

With the baduanjin data, Saybold said he is now "more optimistic than ever," as "we have evidence that a very low impact exercise with mindfulness can yield a benefit."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Chu said that translating overwhelming medical guidelines is a big part of his job.

"It’s not to just tell somebody, ‘Hey, your blood pressure's too high, pick a pill," he said.

"Lifestyle changes" can be daunting for many people, he added.

"They always make it sound like you have to live for seven years in Tibet on a mountain somewhere, and it’s really not that."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

His simple translation for the baduanjin study is this: "Close the door in your office and just say, ‘I can't be bothered for 10 minutes,’ and just focus on breathing slowly and moving your arms or legs around."

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/ZtHIFGq

Read More

Rudy Giuliani reveals he had 'spiritual experience' while in pneumonia-related coma

Rudy Giuliani, 81, is recovering from a severe case of viral pneumonia that led him into a coma in early May.

The former New York City mayor returned to his online talk show "America’s Mayor Live!" on May 13 and opened up about his health status.

"I feel like I’ve recovered 100%," he said. "I’ve been home a few days and doing really, really well."

RUDY GIULIANI OUT OF ICU, CONTINUING TO RECOVER IN HOSPITAL: 'HE'S WINNING THIS FIGHT'

Giuliani reflected on his time in the hospital, revealing that he had a "very significant spiritual experience" while he was in a "state of out of it."

"I would equate it to a dream of being on line headed for — I can't say headed for heaven — headed for a trial with St. Peter," he described.

"And there was a very, very significant intervention by my Peter. I have my own Peter, Peter Powers. Peter J. Powers, my friend of my lifetime."

During this dream state, Peter said some "very significant words," which Giuliani made sure to repeat and have others record when he woke up, he shared.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

"As soon as I could, I wrote it out so that I wouldn't forget it, and it's meant a lot to me, and I've been reflecting on it quite a bit," he added.

Giuliani was able to discuss his experience with a priest — and plans to share more at a different time.

"I don't want to embellish it," he said. "I don't want to deny what was there."

Powers and Giuliani reportedly became friends in high school. Powers later served as Giuliani’s campaign manager and his first deputy mayor. He died in 2016 at 72 years old from complications with lung cancer, according to multiple news outlets.

Giuliani was hospitalized in critical but stable condition on Sunday, May 3, due to severe breathing issues.

Giuliani's doctor, Maria Ryan, told Fox News correspondent Danamarie McNicholl that the former mayor began feeling ill after returning from a trip to Paris, with his breathing deteriorating to the point that he was placed on a ventilator.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Ryan said his condition turned critical, prompting a priest to be called to his bedside to perform last rites. But by Tuesday, Giuliani's condition had improved enough for doctors to remove him from the ventilator.

According to political strategist Ted Goodman, Giuliani's response and exposure to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks later led to a diagnosis of restrictive airway disease.

Although Giuliani and his doctors have not confirmed that he had a "near-death experience," similar encounters are often reported by people emerging from critical medical situations.

In a 2023 review published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers analyzed more than four decades of reports of near-death experiences, involving more than 2,000 studies and nearly 500 individuals.

Near-death events were categorized into four types of experiences: emotional, cognitive, spiritual/religious and supernatural.

The research identified common traits in these reports – especially having out-of-body experiences, passing through a tunnel, having heightened senses, seeing deceased people or religious figures, encountering a bright light and reviewing life events.

Although these experiences can differ by interpretation, the researchers concluded that the heightened senses and improved consciousness indicate that "these experiences are neither dreams nor sleep, nor the disorders caused."

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"This phenomenon is medically inexplicable," they wrote, adding that the research points to a consistent pattern that "supports the clarity and authenticity of near-death experiences."

Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed reporting. 

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/SnjWTUd

Read More

Possible hantavirus case under investigation in upstate New York; no connection to deadly cruise ship outbreak

A "suspected" hantavirus case in upstate New York is being investigated, according to the Ontario County Public Health Department (OCPHD) based in Canandaigua.

The department announced in a Facebook post Thursday that it is currently "investigating a suspected locally acquired hantavirus case."

"There is NO connection to the cruise ship outbreak, and there is no risk to the general public," OCPHD officials wrote.

The investigation comes as global health officials continue monitoring a rare hantavirus outbreak tied to the MV Hondius luxury cruise ship that has sickened multiple passengers and crew members and left three people dead.

AMERICAN EVACUATED FROM CRUISE SHIP TESTS POSITIVE FOR HANTAVIRUS, ANOTHER HAS SYMPTOMS, HHS CONFIRMS

As of May 13, the World Health Organization (WHO) said 11 hantavirus cases had been identified in connection with the cruise outbreak, including eight confirmed cases, two probable cases and one inconclusive case. Three deaths have also been linked to the outbreak.

Health officials have emphasized that hantavirus infections remain rare and that the risk to the general public is low.

Human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is considered extremely rare and has only been suspected in certain strains, including the Andes hantavirus strain linked to the cruise ship outbreak.

HANTAVIRUS IN THE US: WHERE THE RARE, SOMETIMES DEADLY DISEASE HAS BEEN FOUND

"Hantavirus infections are rare in New York," the OCPHD said. "The virus is spread through mouse and rodent droppings, especially when urine, feces, or nesting materials become aerosolized during cleaning."

The OCPHD urged residents to take precautions when cleaning enclosed spaces where rodents may be present, including wearing gloves and masks when opening or cleaning attics, cabins, sheds and garages.

The OCPHD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

REPORTED HANTAVIRUS PROTOCOL BREACH AT HOSPITAL FORCES 12 EMPLOYEES INTO 6-WEEK QUARANTINE

The cruise ship outbreak has prompted heightened precautions internationally.

In the Netherlands, Radboud University Medical Center quarantined 12 staff members after officials said a hantavirus patient’s blood and urine were not handled under the strictest international protocols required for the specific virus strain.

Hospital officials said the risk of infection to staff remained low but called the quarantine a precautionary measure.

The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius began after a Dutch cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage.

According to the WHO, investigators believe the initial infection may have stemmed from rodent exposure during birdwatching excursions before boarding the ship.

Fox News Digital's Bonny Chu contributed to this report.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/8KlxjGz

Read More

Alternative cancer treatments see spike after Joe Rogan podcast episode

→ Joe Rogan podcast appearance tied to rise in demand for alternative cancer treatment

→ Hantavirus fears spark COVID flashbacks, but experts note major difference

→ Celebrity chef reveals No. 1 mistake sabotaging weight loss

→ Experimental obesity drug outperforms traditional weight-loss treatments

→ Simple body movement could help brain 'clean itself,' researchers find

→ Alzheimer’s risk slashed by eating more of common food, study suggests

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

→ Andes virus linked to cruise ship deaths raises concern over human-to-human spread

→ Common health condition gets new name after global experts call current term ‘inaccurate’

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/5wK4UGi

Read More

Cancer-related brain fog may improve with 2 simple treatments, scientists say

A common over-the-counter medication combined with a home exercise program could help ease cognitive issues for cancer patients.

That’s according to a study from the University of Rochester, which tested the effects of physical activity and low-dose ibuprofen on patients receiving chemotherapy treatment.

"Chemo brain" (also called chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment, or CRCI) is a known side effect of cancer treatment that can affect memory, concentration and multitasking ability. Up to 80% of people who receive chemo experience some degree of cognitive impairment, previous studies have shown.

BRAIN AGING MAY ACCELERATE AFTER CANCER TREATMENT, STUDY SUGGESTS

Rochester’s phase 2 trial studied 86 adult cancer patients in New York undergoing chemotherapy who were experiencing cognitive problems. The average age was 53 and nearly 89% of participants were women, according to a university press release.

Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups. One group participated in home exercise designed specifically for cancer patients, a second group combined the exercises with ibuprofen (200 milligrams, or one pill, twice a day), the third group took ibuprofen alone and a fourth took a placebo alone.

TWO POPULAR TYPES OF EXERCISE COULD REDUCE CANCER GROWTH, STUDY FINDS

The exercise program consisted of low to moderate-intensity activity, including progressive walking and training with resistance bands.

"This is one of the first studies specifically designed to assess these interventions for cancer-related cognitive impairment during chemotherapy in patients with multiple diseases using both performance-based cognitive assessments and patient-reported outcomes," said lead author Michelle C. Janelsins, Ph.D., MPH, of the University of Rochester and the Wilmot Cancer Institute, in the press release.

After six weeks, exercise was linked to the clearest improvements in attention and cognitive function, according to input from family and friends. Those in the group who combined exercise and placebo showed better attention levels compared to those who took just a placebo.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Participants who took only ibuprofen also showed greater cognitive improvements than the placebo group.

The findings suggest that ibuprofen may provide some improvement in cognitive function, although the benefits appeared to be smaller and less consistent than those seen with exercise.

This suggests that inflammation may contribute to cancer-related cognitive impairment, and that anti-inflammatory medications could be an effective therapeutic approach.

"We are encouraged by the findings of this trial that suggest possible benefits of both interventions for some cognitive domains," Janelsins said. "Clearly, we saw a more pronounced effect with exercise, which is notable considering the multiple health benefits of exercise for cancer survivors."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

No adverse side effects were reported during the trial.

The findings were published in Cancer, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

There were some limitations of the study, the researchers noted, including the small sample size and short duration. The effects were also not consistent across every measure of cognitive function.

As the majority of participants were women, the findings may not be generalized to broader populations.

Researchers are planning larger phase 3 trials to confirm whether ibuprofen and exercise can effectively improve chemo-related cognitive impairment.

"Since we saw cognitive benefits in some domains and not others, we will also consider additional doses and longer durations in future research trials," said Janelsins.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Investigators emphasized that patients should speak with their oncology team before starting ibuprofen or exercise interventions during chemotherapy, as certain treatments or medical conditions could increase the risk of side effects and complications.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/mL83ZWC

Read More