77 studies
Research Library
Peer-reviewed papers from top journals, summarized and graded by evidence strength. Updated Mon, Wed & Fri.
May 10–16, 2026
2Blood NAD+ Levels Stay Flat With Age, Challenging Popular Aging Theory
One of the most repeated ideas in longevity is that NAD+ declines as we age, a story that helped make NR and NMN household names in the space. This large, carefully controlled study takes a closer look. Across seven independent cohorts and more than 300 people, researchers found that whole-blood NAD+ levels stayed remarkably stable with age, and didn't shift meaningfully in response to exercise, protein-rich diets, or multimodal lifestyle interventions in older adults. Importantly, NR supplementation did raise blood NAD+ as expected, confirming that the supplements work pharmacologically, the question is just whether blood NAD+ is the right thing to be measuring in the first place.
Losing Your Sense Of Smell May Signal Faster Muscle Decline With Age
In adults aged 71 to 82, those who had lost their sense of smell lost grip strength faster over seven years. Men with anosmia also lost more quadriceps strength, though women did not show the same leg muscle effect. The link suggests smell loss may be an early warning sign of neuromuscular aging.
Apr 26 – May 2, 2026
6Birth Control and Hormone Therapy May Leave a Lasting Mark on Women's Brains
In women aged 65 to 80, those who had used birth control pills earlier in life had more gray matter in several brain regions. Combining birth control with menopausal hormone therapy was linked to even greater volume and thicker cortex. Later menopause, meaning more natural hormone exposure, also tracked with healthier brain structure. Timing of hormone exposure may matter for long-term brain aging.
Better Diet Linked to Slower Epigenetic Aging, But Exercise Steals the Show
In two large U.S. studies of older adults, eating a higher-quality diet was tied to slower epigenetic aging and lower death risk. About 44% of the diet-mortality link was explained by GrimAge, a biological aging clock. But when researchers accounted for physical activity, the diet effect mostly disappeared. Movement may matter as much as the menu.
Three Ways to Measure Biological Age All Predict Heart Disease
In over 320,000 UK adults followed for nearly 14 years, accelerated biological aging predicted heart trouble across the board. Depending on which aging clock was used, faster aging raised heart failure risk by 26% to 52% per standard deviation. Adding these biological age scores to standard risk models improved prediction of who would develop heart disease.
Stress Response Trade-Off: Less ATF4 Activity May Extend Lifespan in Flies
Scientists used to think turning on the body's stress response made organisms live longer. But in fruit flies, the opposite was true. When researchers dialed down a key stress pathway called GCN2-ATF4, flies lived longer. Cranking it up shortened their lives. This complicates the popular idea that all forms of cellular stress activation are good for aging.
When Your Body Ages Faster Than Your Birthday, Your Heart Pays the Price
In over 31,000 UK adults, those whose biological age outpaced their actual age had clearly worse heart outcomes. Each extra 4.6 years of biological aging meant a 29% higher risk of heart failure and a 16% higher risk of dying from heart disease. Heart scans showed these people also had weaker, smaller heart muscles. Women seemed more affected than men.
How Polyphenols From Tea, Berries, and Curcumin May Slow Aging Pathways
This review looks at how common plant compounds like resveratrol, EGCG from green tea, curcumin, and quercetin may influence aging. They appear to nudge the same pathways targeted by longevity drugs, including AMPK, sirtuins, and mTOR. They also feed gut bacteria that produce urolithin A, a compound linked to better mitochondrial health.
Apr 19–25, 2026
3What Centenarians' Immune Systems Reveal About Escaping Age-Related Disease
People who live past 100 tend to have immune systems that look surprisingly young. This review found they have less chronic inflammation, better cellular cleanup (autophagy), and gut bacteria patterns linked to healthy aging. Those living past 110 often have immune profiles resembling much younger adults.
Inflammation in the Blood Shows Up as Damage in Brain Wiring
In late middle-aged and older adults, higher levels of inflammatory markers in blood were tied to subtle changes in white matter, the brain's wiring. People with more pro-inflammatory cytokines and CRP showed signs of disrupted neural fibers. The link held even after accounting for Alzheimer's biomarkers. This supports the idea that chronic inflammation quietly chips away at brain health.
Healthy Lifestyle Didn't Change Brain Scans, But Still Helped At-Risk Seniors
In older adults at risk for cognitive decline, a two-year program of exercise, better diet, and social engagement didn't visibly change brain biomarkers like amyloid or shrinkage. But people who started with smaller hippocampi (the brain's memory hub) got more cognitive benefit from the structured version. So the lifestyle changes may help thinking even without obviously reshaping the brain.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.
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