Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 3 seconds. Contains 812 words.

Today’s Sponsor

Unlock the secrets of longevity with Long Youth Span. Get practical tips, the latest research, and inspiring stories right in your inbox.

Unlocking the Japanese Secret of Longevity: The Simple 3-Minute Daily Exercise Practiced by Centenarians in Okinawa

Eating well, having good relationships, and a positive mindset are all important for living a long and happy life, but being active is also crucial. Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, authors of "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life," discovered this when they talked to over 100 of the oldest people in Okinawa, Japan, where there are more people over 100 years old than anywhere else.

These authors learned that Okinawan seniors stay active every day in simple ways, not necessarily through gym workouts or long runs. They found that almost everyone they spoke to practices radio taiso, a popular exercise in Japan that's been around for a long time.

Radio taiso, or "radio exercises," are broadcasted daily on the radio, and the routines only take about three minutes. The movements are easy and not too hard on the body, and a key goal of these exercises is to bring people together. They're often done in groups, like at school or work.

One of the most common exercises is just lifting your arms over your head and moving them in a circle. This might sound simple, but many of us don't often lift our arms above our heads in our daily lives.

The authors also found that yoga and tai chi are common among older people in Japan. But they say the most important thing is to choose a physical activity that you enjoy and that gets you moving.

Public Health Group Urges Regular Anxiety and Depression Screenings for Young and Middle-Aged Adults

A public health group, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, says that all young and middle-aged adults should regularly be checked for anxiety and depression, even if they aren't showing any signs of these conditions. This is the first time the group has suggested regular anxiety screenings for adults. They're particularly recommending that pregnant women and those who have given birth within the past year get screened.

Doctors screening for anxiety will ask about things like if a person has felt easily annoyed, worried, or restless in the past two weeks. This recommendation comes as more people have been feeling emotional stress, and there aren't enough mental health workers to help everyone.

The group didn't find enough evidence to say that adults 65 and older should be screened. The recommendations might influence how insurance companies pay for these screenings, but doctors don't have to follow them.

Screening for anxiety usually involves answering questions at the doctor's office. Based on your answers, the doctor might suggest medication or refer you to a specialist. Not everyone with anxiety or depression will show obvious signs during a regular doctor visit, so screenings can help identify these conditions.

The group also specifically mentioned the importance of screening pregnant and postpartum women, as mental health issues have been increasing among this group. They also said that more research is needed to see if screening could help identify adults at risk of suicide.

Machine Learning Identifies Three Herbal Compounds with Potential Anti-Aging Properties

Scientists have used a machine learning model to find three substances that might help fight aging. This could be a good way to find new medicines, especially for complex diseases.

Cells in our bodies divide to help us grow and to replace old cells. But when cells become old and stop dividing, they can cause damage and aging in our bodies. Usually, our immune system gets rid of these old cells, but as we get older, it's not as good at doing this. More old cells can lead to diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's, and can cause problems like worsening eyesight and reduced mobility. So, scientists have been trying to find ways to remove these old cells.

In the past, some substances have been found that can get rid of old cells, but these can also harm healthy cells. So, a team of researchers in Scotland used a machine learning model to look for substances that can safely remove old cells.

They trained the model to recognize the features of substances that can remove old cells. They used a lot of different data, including academic papers and commercial patents, and used compounds from libraries of FDA-approved or clinical-stage compounds.

They then used the model to look at more than 4,000 substances, and found 21 that might work. After testing these, they found that three substances - ginkgetin, periplocin, and oleandrin - could remove old cells without harming healthy ones. All three of these are found in traditional herbal medicines.

The researchers say that their method was very efficient, and that it could be a good way to find new drugs. It was also more cost-effective than traditional ways of finding drugs, like preclinical and clinical trials. They hope their work will help speed up the use of this technology.

Today’s Sponsor

Unlock the secrets of longevity with Long Youth Span. Get practical tips, the latest research, and inspiring stories right in your inbox.