#Ageing

A fresh analysis drawing on international mortality data shows a startling trend: Americans aged 25 to 44 are dying at higher rates than their counterparts in every other wealthy nation. In 2023, researchers reported that a sizable share of those deaths qualify as “excess” deaths—deaths that would be unlikely if the United States experienced the same death rates as its affluent peers. The findings come from a long-term comparison of death records spanning several decades, using publicly available data and a widely used mortality database. The headline is provocative, but the message goes deeper: life expectancy gaps between the United States and its global peers are not simply a matter of overall wealth. They reflect structural forces—economic inequality, access to care, and social conditions—that disproportionately weigh on younger adults.

In a field that prizes youth and raw speed, a surprising group of elite competitors actually get better or stay remarkably sharp well into their late 30s and 40s, and neuroscience is beginning to explain why. The latest analysis shows that repeated exposure to high-pressure competition, combined with targeted physical training, deliberate recovery and mental skills practice, rewires brain circuits and raises protective molecules that support learning, decision-making and stress control. For Thai readers asking “How can I stay mentally and physically sharp as I age?” the short answer is: train body and mind together, manage stress deliberately, prioritize sleep and practice skills that build anticipation and decision-making as much as raw power.

Elite competitors often treated as symbols of youth can actually improve or maintain sharpness into their late 30s and 40s. Neuroscience now helps explain why. Repeated exposure to high-pressure contests, combined with targeted training, deliberate recovery, and mental skills practice, reshapes brain circuits and boosts protective molecules that support learning, decision-making, and stress control. For Thai readers wondering how to stay mentally and physically fit as they age, the answer is practical: train body and mind together, manage stress with intention, prioritize sleep, and practice skills that foster anticipation and prudent decision-making alongside strength.

Aging Thailand is embracing a new kind of vitality. Fresh research shows that organized sports after 60 deliver substantial health and longevity benefits for older adults. Across the country, seniors begin their days with purpose—from synchronized swimming at municipal pools to friendly badminton matches and coastal cycling groups. This is not just recreation; it is a smart public health strategy gaining momentum in Thai communities.

Lead researchers analyzed thousands of studies and found that seniors who participate in organized sports improve cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function, and mental well-being. They also tend to carry less body fat and maintain independence longer. In Thailand’s context, where the population is aging rapidly, these findings arrive at a pivotal moment.

A growing body of research and new surveys show that people are not only staying active into their 60s, 70s and beyond but are returning to organised sports — with measurable gains for fitness, mental health and longevity. Recent analysis of dozens of studies finds that sport participation in later life improves cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function and mood, while population surveys and national veteran competitions report rising numbers of older athletes. Experts say the risks of injury are real but manageable with screening, sensible progressions and a community support system — lessons Thai families, public health services and local governments can use as the country ages. (Many of these findings and expert comments were summarised in a guest column in The Washington Post.) (Washington Post guest column)

As Thailand rapidly ages, groundbreaking research reveals organized sports deliver unprecedented health and longevity benefits for older adults

In communities across Thailand, a quiet revolution unfolds each morning. At Lumpini Park, 70-year-old former teachers practice synchronized swimming strokes in the pool. In Chiang Mai’s municipal courts, silver-haired badminton players execute precise drop shots with decades of refined technique. Throughout southern provinces, masters cycling groups navigate scenic coastal routes, their laughter echoing across temple grounds.

Thailand’s rapid demographic transformation toward an aging society intersects with promising new research demonstrating that community-centered approaches to brain health may offer the most practical and culturally appropriate strategies for preventing cognitive decline among the kingdom’s growing elderly population. A landmark United States study involving over 2,000 adults at risk for dementia reveals that structured programs combining regular exercise, social engagement, nutritious eating, and cognitive stimulation can measurably slow brain aging by one to two years, offering hope and actionable guidance as Thailand faces the challenge of supporting nearly one million citizens currently living with dementia, with projections indicating dramatic increases as the population continues aging.

A major new study in the United States has found that a combination of regular exercise, social activities, a nutritious diet, and brain-training games can improve cognitive performance for those at heightened risk of dementia. The findings, which drew on more than 2,000 adults aged 60 to 79 over a two-year period, offer hope and insight into practical strategies that people—including Thais—can adopt to help protect their brain health as they age. While the study reveals both opportunities and limitations, its lessons are highly relevant as dementia becomes an escalating challenge for Thailand’s ageing society.

Aging Thailand is meeting promising science that supports community-centered brain health. New research from the United States involving more than 2,000 older adults at risk for dementia shows that programs combining regular exercise, social engagement, healthy eating, and cognitive stimulation can slow brain aging by one to two years. With nearly one million people living with dementia in Thailand and numbers expected to rise, these findings offer practical, culturally aligned guidance for national planning.

Regular exercise in early life can extend healthspan—the years lived free from serious illness—without lengthening total lifespan. For Thai readers, this highlights how childhood habits may shape long-term well-being and inform public health strategies focused on preventing age-related diseases.

Researchers compared two groups of mice: one encouraged to exercise in youth and a sedentary group. Exercised mice retained greater strength, better metabolism, and higher physical resilience as they aged. Total survival time remained similar, suggesting early-life activity improves quality of life in old age without adding years to life. The study emphasizes enhanced health markers rather than extended longevity.

A recent landmark study published in Nature Communications reveals that engaging in regular exercise during early life can significantly extend the period of good health, or “healthspan,” in mice, even though it does not increase overall lifespan. This finding offers new insight into how early-life behaviors can influence long-term health outcomes, with implications that could ultimately inform human public health strategies—including those in Thailand, where prevention of age-related diseases is gaining national attention (Nature Communications).

For many Thais, it’s a familiar refrain heard from elders: “Each year passes faster than the last.” This shared experience, long chalked up to nostalgia or busy lives, now has new scientific backing. Recent research published in the journal European Review and summarized in an Earth.com article explains why our perception of time truly seems to speed up with age, lending insight into both the mechanics of the brain and possible ways for everyone, young or old, to reclaim a sense of fuller, richer days (Earth.com).

A groundbreaking study by Chinese researchers has finally shed light on the deeper mechanisms behind how long-term exercise slows ageing, pinpointing a naturally occurring compound called betaine as a critical player in the process. This research, published in the journal Cell in late June 2025, offers not just a better scientific understanding but also raises exciting possibilities for new anti-ageing interventions—even for those who have difficulty exercising due to age or health challenges (SCMP; PubMed; Nature).

A recent study from the Chinese Academy of Sciences highlights how regular physical activity can slow ageing, with betaine playing a central role. Betaine, a naturally occurring compound boosted by sustained exercise, appears to reduce inflammation and protect organ health by inhibiting TBK1, a protein linked to ageing processes.

Researchers used a staged approach. Healthy young men paused intense activity for 45 days, then resumed a jogging routine of five kilometers every other day for 25 days. After the intervention, scientists observed notable changes in immune cells and metabolism. Parallel experiments in aged mice showed that betaine supplementation improved muscle strength, skin health, and several physiological markers. Lab work confirmed that betaine directly targets and inhibits TBK1.

A short, daily brisk walk could sharpen mental faculties as people age. Recent international findings from researchers at the University of South Australia and AdventHealth Research Institute show that even five minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity can boost cognitive function in older adults. The study, published in Age and Ageing, analyzed how daily activity patterns relate to cognitive performance, including processing speed, working memory, and executive function.

Thailand is rapidly aging, and experts stress the urgency of practical ways to preserve cognition. The World Health Organization notes that by 2030, one in six people globally will be 60 or older. In Thailand, more than one in five residents are over 60, underscoring the need for accessible health strategies as families manage senior care and public budgets respond to rising demand. The new findings offer a simple path: small, purposeful bursts of activity can yield meaningful brain benefits.

A brisk five-minute walk may be all it takes to give your brain a cognitive boost as you age, according to a groundbreaking international study just released by researchers at the University of South Australia and AdventHealth Research Institute. The findings, published on April 4, 2025, in the journal Age and Ageing, shed light on how even modest bursts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity—such as quick-paced walking or light jogging—can significantly improve mental agility in older adults (source).

A landmark review in The Lancet reinforces a simple truth: regular exercise helps protect the aging brain. The study outlines several ways physical activity supports cognitive function, potentially lowering dementia risk and promoting sharper thinking across the lifespan. For Thailand’s aging population, these insights come with timely practical implications, highlighting fitness as an affordable, scalable pathway to brain health.

In Thailand, more than 15% of people are over 60, placing dementia and related conditions high on the national health agenda. While genetics matter, lifestyle choices like consistent exercise remain among the most accessible strategies to build cognitive resilience. The new review explains how activity stimulates brain cell growth, strengthens neural connections, and raises brain-derived neurotrophic factors that support learning and memory. Exercise also benefits heart health, reduces chronic inflammation, and helps regulate blood sugar and blood pressure—factors closely tied to cognitive performance and dementia risk. Together, these mechanisms can delay or lessen memory decline in ageing populations.

A growing body of scientific research is shedding new light on the powerful ways that regular exercise can protect the brain as people age, supporting sharper thinking and potentially lowering the risk of dementia. The latest review, published in The Lancet, details multiple neuroprotective mechanisms by which physical activity benefits the ageing brain, amplifying longstanding calls for Thais—and people worldwide—to prioritise fitness for lifelong cognitive health The Lancet.

This news carries significant implications for Thailand’s rapidly ageing society. With more than 15% of the population now over 60, the Kingdom faces surging rates of dementia and related disorders, making brain health a national priority. While genetics and other factors do play a role, the new review points out that lifestyle interventions like exercise remain among the most accessible and cost-effective measures to promote cognitive resilience in later years.

A major new study suggests that light exercise can help slow memory decline in seniors at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The EXERT trial tracked nearly 300 sedentary older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and found that both low-intensity activities—like stretching—and moderate-to-high intensity aerobic workouts helped keep cognitive function stable over 12 months. The findings appear in two papers in Alzheimer’s & Dementia and offer a practical path for families in Thailand facing an aging population.

A newly published study offers hope for millions of older adults at risk of Alzheimer’s disease, showing that even light forms of exercise may help slow cognitive decline. This large clinical trial, called the EXERT study, found that both low-intensity activities, such as stretching, and moderate-to-high intensity aerobic exercise kept cognitive function stable over a 12-month period for seniors with mild memory problems – a group considered high-risk for Alzheimer’s. The findings, reported in two papers in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, could signal a practical path forward for Thai families concerned about brain health amid a rapidly aging population.

A major new review in The Lancet provides fresh insights into how exercise acts as a powerful protector of the ageing brain, marking a significant step forward in scientific understanding of the neuroprotective effects of physical fitness. The research, led by international experts, underscores the vital role that regular physical activity plays in not only preserving memory and thinking skills but also in counteracting the very processes that make the brain vulnerable to diseases like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. For Thai readers, already facing an increasingly aged society, these findings reinforce the urgent importance of weaving fitness into daily life—not just for the body, but for the mind as well.

A major new review in The Lancet shows that regular exercise protects the ageing brain, marking a significant step in understanding how physical fitness safeguards memory and thinking. Led by international researchers, the study emphasizes that staying active can help counteract diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. For Thailand’s rapidly aging population, the findings highlight the practical, mind-shielding value of fitness in daily life.

Thailand faces a rising burden of brain disorders as its population ages. The Thai Ministry of Public Health projects nearly 1 million Thais may live with dementia by 2030, underscoring the emotional and economic impact on families and health services. The Lancet review synthesizes the latest science, showing that consistent aerobic exercise—such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming—promotes neurogenesis, enhances neuronal function, and strengthens networks essential for memory and attention. Research from a leading medical journal reinforces that movement matters for brain health as much as it does for the body.

A simple test—how long you can stand on one leg—may be one of the clearest indicators of your physical age and even your long-term health outlook, according to growing research in the field of geriatric medicine. New studies, including recent findings from the Mayo Clinic and data published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggest that the ability to balance on one leg for at least 10 seconds is strongly linked to overall health and longevity, especially in people over 50. For Thais concerned about healthy ageing, this insight offers a powerful, easy-to-use predictor that could shape personal and public health strategies for years to come.

A simple test may reveal how old our bodies actually feel. Standing on one leg for at least 10 seconds is increasingly seen as a clear predictor of health and longevity, especially for people over 50. Research from renowned medical centers and journals points to balance performance as a stronger signal of neuromuscular ageing than traditional measures like grip strength. For Thailand, where the population is ageing rapidly, this insight could inform personal health choices and national prevention strategies.