- Research suggests that taking a multivitamin every day may help slow the signs of biological aging.
- A recent study found that higher midlife cardiorespiratory fitness levels may be associated with a longer life span.
- According to new research, short-term dietary changes may help lower the gap between biological age and chronological age in older adults.
Diet, lifestyle factors, and physical activity levels may help you live longer.
Research suggests that a higher level of midlife cardiorespiratory fitness may help you live longer. Frequent aerobic exercise may also slow down the onset of numerous health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Another
Additionally, an article published in
“Although everyone ages over time, there may be simple ways to delay the aging process and help us live not only longer but also better,” Sidong Li, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, told Healthline in a previous interview.
A
It used “epigenetic clocks” to measure biological aging after participants took Centrum Silver multivitamins and 500 milligrams (mg) of cocoa flavanols per day for 24 months. Epigenetic clocks are assessment tools that measure chemical changes to DNA.
The study found that those who took the multivitamins experienced slightly slower biological aging than those in the placebo group.
In a previous interview with Healthline, Michelle Routhenstein, preventive cardiology dietitian at Entirely Nourished, explained that “these are changes in biomarkers, not direct evidence of fewer heart attacks, cancers, or longer life span. So I would view the findings as encouraging but still preliminary.” Routhenstein wasn’t involved in this study.
Higher levels of midlife cardiorespiratory fitness in adults may help lengthen life span, according to a 2026 study.
Cardiorespiratory fitness refers to the ability of the heart and lungs to deliver oxygen to the muscles during exercise or physical activity.
The study assessed 24,576 adults ages 65 years or younger. Using the treadmill test, it was determined that men with a higher cardiorespiratory fitness had:
- 2% longer health span
- 9% fewer diseases
- 3% longer life span
The study noted similar findings among women.
“This study confirms our understanding of cardiorespiratory fitness as a marker of future health outcomes, and should encourage all of us to make physical activity a part of our daily lives,” explained Cheng-Han Chen, MD, board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, in a previous interview with Healthline. Chen was not involved in the study.
A study published in
Biological age refers to aging at a cellular level. To assess whether diet could impact biological aging, participants adopted one of the following diets:
- omnivorous/high fat (OHF)
- omnivorous/high carbohydrate (OHC)
- semi-vegetarian/high fat (VHF)
- semi-vegetarian/high carbohydrate (VHC)
The difference between participants’ KDM-determined age and their chronological age was calculated before the study and then again after 4 weeks.
Participants following the OHF diet showed no known meaningful change. The study notes that this diet was most like the participants’ baseline diet.
However, compared with those following the OHF diet, those following the OHC diet showed a significant reduction in the difference between their biological and chronological ages. The VHC and VHF diets also led to similar reductions in the difference between the two ages.
“It doesn’t surprise me that this study showed that, in just four weeks, dietary changes that shift eating habits toward a more plant-forward pattern can have a meaningful impact on blood pressure, cholesterol, insulin sensitivity, and energy levels,” Routhenstein told Healthline. Routhenstein wasn’t involved in the study.
“I would interpret these findings as improvements in cardiometabolic health, which may indirectly contribute to longevity benefits. This is because heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally, and we know that up to 80% of cases may be preventable through lifestyle changes,” Routhenstein added.
“That said, I would refrain from using the term ‘true age reversal’, as this can only be determined if these dietary changes are sustained over the long term and the improvements in cardiometabolic health remain stable over time.”
Routhenstein further explained that “one of the most encouraging aspects of this study is that meaningful improvements were observed in older adults after only 4 weeks. It reinforces the idea that it is never too late to benefit from dietary changes.”
Leave a Reply