#AgeingSociety

Recent global research has unveiled the surprising power of grandparenting to shape the health, identity, and resilience of the next generation—a finding that carries fresh resonance across Thai society as families navigate urbanization, shifting demographics, and evolving intergenerational roles. In a new era marked by aging populations and increasing longevity, the influence of grandparents is being rediscovered not only as a source of emotional nourishment, but as a foundation for cognitive and social development in grandchildren, bridging family culture, and preserving critical intergenerational wisdom.

Many older Thais have consistently sought out vaccinations for diseases like shingles, influenza, and pneumonia—a strategy that is increasingly validated by a wave of new international research that also carries critical implications for the Kingdom’s rapidly aging society. These findings not only reinforce the wisdom of vaccine compliance among Thailand’s elderly populations but reveal surprising new benefits, including a reduced risk of dementia, according to recent studies published and reported globally, most notably in a major New York Times article.

A landmark international study has revealed that living with combinations of chronic physical illnesses—such as heart disease, diabetes, lung conditions, or liver problems—more than doubles the risk of developing depression, underscoring the urgent need for Thailand’s healthcare system to integrate physical and mental health care. The research, published in Nature Communications Medicine and based on health data from over 142,000 adults, highlights a concerning link between certain multimorbidity profiles and future depression diagnoses, particularly when illnesses like heart disease and diabetes occur together (Neuroscience News).

A new study published in The Lancet has shed light on the powerful neuroprotective effects of regular exercise, highlighting its vital role in promoting healthy brain ageing and potentially reducing the risk of dementia and other cognitive diseases. The findings are of particular significance for Thai readers, as Thailand faces an ageing society with rising concerns over brain health and dementia rates among older adults.

With Thailand’s population shifting rapidly towards the elderly—projections estimate that over 20% of Thais will be aged 60 or over by 2025—the burden of age-associated cognitive decline has become a pressing issue for families and the healthcare system alike. The newly published research underscores the importance of fitness, adding scientific weight to long-standing folk wisdom encouraging an active lifestyle for “kaeng raeng”—robust health. The study, titled “Neuroprotective mechanisms of exercise and the importance of fitness for healthy brain ageing,” explains that physical activity goes beyond maintaining muscle and heart health: it triggers specific molecular and cellular mechanisms that directly protect brain tissue from age-related degeneration.

Thai readers are increasingly seeking ways to manage joint pain without invasive treatments, and recent research is providing promising, practical solutions. A new wave of medical guidance highlights the effectiveness of gentle exercise routines in alleviating sore knees, a common complaint among the Thai population as the country faces an ageing society and sedentary lifestyles. Health authorities, physical therapists, and international experts all point to targeted, low-impact exercises as key to both relief and prevention of knee discomfort.