#Lifespan

A groundbreaking new study tracking over 540,000 adults for nearly 30 years has ignited alarm across the global health community, revealing a significant link between diets high in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and an increased risk of early death. Published in July 2025 and widely cited by international health experts, the research found that participants consuming the most ultra-processed foods had about a 10% higher risk of dying early, compared to those with the lowest consumption levels. With ultra-processed foods now a staple in many Thai diets, these findings carry urgent implications for national health and daily food choices.

Early-life exercise may not extend the number of years one lives, but new research shows it can deliver a longer, healthier life—at least in mice. A comprehensive study published in Nature Communications in July 2025 has revealed that regular exercise in youth substantially improves health markers and delays age-related decline, but does not significantly increase overall lifespan in mice. These findings highlight the critical importance of building active habits early in life to maximize the quality of health in later years—a message with profound relevance for Thai families, educators, and health policymakers.

A major new study spanning 101 countries has revealed that adults who consume a diet rich in plant-based proteins tend to live longer, while animal proteins remain crucial during early life. Published in Nature Communications, the international research provides some of the most comprehensive evidence yet linking dietary protein sources to lifespan, with possible lessons for Thailand’s evolving food landscape and health policies Nature Communications.

Across the globe, diets higher in plant protein were associated with significantly improved adult survivorship and overall life expectancy, especially when compared to diets where most protein comes from animal sources. Notably, the opposite effect was found among young children—animal-derived proteins offered unique survival benefits in the first years of life, likely due to bioavailable nutrients critical for development.