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A few years ago, I traveled to Okinawa in Japan, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Ikaria in Greece, Loma Linda in California and Sardinia in Italy all "Blue Zones," or homes to thelongest-lived people to find out what centenarians ate to live to 100.

I also asked dozens of theworld's leading nutritionists and food scientists what we should eat to enjoy a long and healthy life, while also taking care of the environment.

One conclusion leaped out like a flashing neon sign (and might come as a shock to fans of the latest trendy diets): Of the top 10 recommended foods, half belonged to the bean family lentils, soybeans, peanuts, chickpeas and black beans.

On Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, for example, the day might begin with a warm corn tortilla stuffed with savory black beans. On the Italian island of Sardinia, lunch might be a steaming bowl of minestrone, packed with fava beans, cranberry beans and chickpeas. On the Japanese island of Okinawa, dinner might include a tasty stir-fry with green beans, soybeans or mung bean sprouts.

Coincidental? I don't think so. A 2004 study of people 70 years or older in three different cultures around the world found that for every two tablespoons of beans a day individuals consumed, they reduced their risk of dying by 8%.

Other research has shown that beans not only provide the complex carbohydrates, proteins and trace minerals our bodies need, they also supply the fiber our microbiomes require, boosting our immune systems. That makes sense, because Blue Zone residents don't achieve their extraordinary longevity by relying on superior genes alone, but also by avoiding obesity, diabetes, heart disease, dementia and cancers better than the rest of us.

By contrast, nearly two thirds of Americans now report themselves to be overweight or obese, according to Gallup. And according to arecent Harvard study,we have a shorter average life expectancy than residents of nearly any other high-income nation largely because of our diets and lifestyles.

In every Blue Zone I've ever visited, generations of cooks have made beans a key ingredient in their most popular recipes.

Here are a few to make in your own kitchen:

TENDER BEAN, POTATO AND ONION STEW

Tender Bean, Potato and Onion Stew

(National Geographic | David McLain)

Featured in almost every Nicoyan meal, black beans contain high levels of anthocyanins and have 10 times the antioxidants of an equivalent serving of oranges. Rich and hearty, this one-pot meal is a staple in Costa Rica. It's easy to make and costs less than $1 a serving.

Cook time: 1 hourServings: 6

Ingredients:

Steps:

CHICKPEA SOUP WITH LEMON AND HERBS

Chickpea Soup With Lemon and Herbs

(National Geographic | David McLain)

Greeks and Ikarians especially have mastered the art of blending lemon, olive oil and herbs. This simple recipe is a warming alternative to chicken soup in the winter and provides yet another way to creatively incorporate beans into your daily diet.

Cook time: 2 hours, 20 minutes; 45 minutes if using canned chickpeasServings: 6

Ingredients:

Steps:

BLACK-EYE PEA SALAD WITH MINT AND ONIONS

Black-Eye Pea Salad With Mint and Onions

(National Geographic | David McLain)

This recipe represents one of my fondest revelations from cooking in Ikaria. I would never have thought to pair beans with vinegar and mint, but the result was a symphony of new and magical flavors. The vinegar not only adds the healthful digestion and immunity-boosting effects of fermentation and probiotics, but also helps maintain the texture of the beans so they don't disintegrate as leftovers.

Cook time: 1 hour if using dried beans; 10 minutes with canned beansServings: 8

Ingredients:

Steps:

SWEET POTATO BLACK BEAN BURGER

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers

(National Geographic | David McLain)

This burger is a longevity powerhouse. Loaded with beans, greens, sweet potatoes and pepitas, it's the perfect example of a Blue Zonesinspired twist on a classic American comfort food.

Cook time: 35 minutesServings: 4

Ingredients:

The Patty and Buns:

The Sauce:

The Toppings:

Steps:

On top of being good for you, beans are cheap to produce and grow practically everywhere, from equatorial zones to northern regions, so they don't need to be transported vast distances to reach markets. They also don't require refrigeration and can be stored for a long time.

Beans are even healthy for the land itself, because they restore crucial nitrogen to the soil. Accounting for the environmental impacts of what we eat has become more urgent as Earth's climate crisis has worsened. The global food system now contributes more than a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from livestock production.

Shifting our diets to favor plants over meat could be so important. If people followed standard dietary guidelines, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food production by as much as 70%, according to a team from the University of Oxford.

So, what's the bottom line? Can we be good to both ourselves and the planet? Our research suggests we can. And the first step on that quest to achieve a long healthy life should be to embrace the simple magic of beans.

Dan Buettner is a longevity researcher, National Geographic Fellowand award-winning journalist. He is the author of"The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest" and "The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People." His latest bestseller,"The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes for Living to 100," fuses scientific reporting, National Geographic photography and recipes that may help you live to100.

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Adding this one simple food to your diet may help you live to 100, according to the world's longest-living people - CNBC

The term "functional movement" may sound new and complex, but the idea is actually pretty simple: that your training should include movements that are similar to those that you do every day. In the case of Brady himself, that means lots of motions that replicate the motion of throwing a footballbut for the average person, it's about finding exercises that support muscle balance.

Coutts recommended these moves, which focus on "things that are easy to do but are really essential for your spine health and keeping your body symmetrical." If you're a die-hard spin class attendee or a dedicated yogi, you may repeat those activities all week and assume that's enough movementbut Coutts encourages using a simple series like this one to support your body in addition to those favorite activities.

"I always talk to clients about being careful about doing just one activity," she told mbg. "I think when you do one activity over and over again that can lead to different kinds of dysfunction, especially if you're not doing anything to work the other muscles that you need from your body."

That doesn't mean you can't do to five classes a weekbut it's worth planning on including other quick trainings, in particular ones that support the muscle groups that will support your ability to continue those activities you love. "These are some core exercises," she shares. "We're always focusing on strengthening your glutes, strengthening your coreif you don't have those things, you're going to have issues with longevity."

Here are five easy foundational moves to start with or add to your existing routine.

Read the rest here:
Be Like Brady: 5 Functional Movements To Focus On For Athletic Longevity - mindbodygreen.com

Wine making was always a team effort for Phil and Debra Long. When they relocated from Southern California to Livermore and were seduced by the growing wine region -- dabbling in the time honored tradition of crushing and aging grapes -- it was together.

When the hobby outgrew the garage and transformed into a full-blown winery business, both had a hand in it. Debra worked the front of house, Phil toiled in the back crafting Cabernet Sauvignon and his own Debruvee blend.

"It was something we started together," said Phil, sitting in his now silent tasting room in Livermore, home base for his Longevity brand. "It was something we shared together."

Phil designed a heart label on the wine bottles, a tribute to the crystal hearts he used to buy his wife, which sparked her obsession with all-things heart shaped. The design of hearts and vines is even tattooed on his arm. Debra sat with him as he got the needle.

As another display of their romance, Phil installed a mural in the tasting with a picture of the two of them. He assured her she would be part of the business, even when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. Even when she died in 2019.

"I said that's never coming down," Long said. "You were the face, are the face and always will be the face."

With Debra now gone, Longevity winery sits firmly on Phil Long's shoulders. But because of COVID-19, his tasting room is now closed , and his long-planned launch of his own national white label line was delayed by the virus.

"All the sales meeting I had lined up, they started falling like dominoes," he recalled.

In the wake of the death of George Floyd, Long found a growing need for his voice. Not only is he one of the nation's few Black winemakers, he also serves as president of the Association of African American Vintners. It's a group that is minuscule in contrast to the behemoth of the wine industry.

"African-American wine makers and certified minority," he said, "you can count them on one hand."

As Long's own business saw a sales jump in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, so did his desire to promote Black owned wineries across the country. He said Black owned wineries currently make up just a tenth of one percent of the entire industry. His take on the statistic is that African-Americans don't come from a culture of winemaking. But he hopes that creating opportunities for young winemakers of color, will become the ground floor of a changing culture.

"It's our job now to say 'hey this is something we can do," Long said. "We can do it, and we can do it just as good."

As Long revives the national launch of his Longevity brand while also promoting virtual wine tasting packages and wine club sales. He acknowledges he's weathering a pandemic, a national soul-searching on equality, and the launch of his brand without his partner Debra.

But somewhere in that loss, is a roadmap for the future.

"For me, I think if I can be comfortable, and happy and continue to honor Debra's memory," Long said, "that's what's making it, to me."

Read the original here:
Livermore Man Helping to Change the Face of Winemaking - NBC Bay Area

Human-induced soil erosion is a serious threat to global sustainability, endangering global food security, driving desertification and biodiversity loss, and degrading other vital ecosystem services, researchers say. According to a new study, erosion is affecting the longevity of the soils across the world.

Soils have underpinned the health and longevity of every society. They are a critical global resource, providing the basis of food production and storing and filtering our water resources. Soils also represent the largest organic carbon store and a platform for economic development. But pressures on the soil resource grow as food demands rise and land degradation increases.

To date, 36% of the worlds cultivable land has been farmed and in many areas of the world, conventional plow-based agriculture is accelerating local soil degradation. The UN estimates that 66% of the worlds soils suffer from some form of degradation. Human-induced erosion is estimated to outpace soil formation, which means we now have thinner soils.

Our soils are critically important and we rely on them in many ways, not least to grow our food, said lead author Dan Evans in a statement. There have been many headlines in recent years suggesting that the worlds topsoil could be gone in 60 years, but these claims have not been supported with evidence. This study provides the first evidence-backed, globally relevant estimates of soil lifespans.

A study by Lancaster University in collaboration with researchers from Changan University in China, and KU Leuven in Belgium, looked at soil erosion data from around the globe, spanning 255 locations across 38 countries on six continents. They calculated the time it would take for the top 30 cm of soil to erode at each locationthe soil lifespan.

They focused on that top layer of the soil as its usually rich in nutrients and organic matter, making it important for growing fibers, food, feedstock, and fuel. In their study, they included soils that are conventionally farmed as well as those managed with soil conservation techniques. That way they can see how changes to land-use practices can alter the lifespan of soil

The findings showed that 90% of the soils conventionally farmed around the world were thinning, with 16% having a lifespan of less than a century. At these sites, soil erosion is a significant threat to the soils capacity to grow food, support ecosystems, store and regulate water, cycle carbon and nutrients, and thus to the overall functioning of the soil system.

But there were reasons to be optimistic. The study showed soils managed with conservation strategies had a longer lifespan, promoting soil thickening. Only 7% of the conservation plot dataset had lifespans of less than 100 years, with nearly half exceeding 5,000 years and 39% exceeding 10,000 years

Soil is a precious resource and we cant afford to lose that much over a human lifetime, said co-author Jess Davies in a statement. We have the tools and practices to make a differenceemploying the appropriate conservation methods in the right place can really help protect and enhance our soil resource and the future of food and farming.

The researchers suggested using a set of strategies to extend soil lifespans and promoting annual soil gain, such as conservation and zero till practices, contour cultivation and terracing. These extend soil lifespans and may promote soil thickening, increasing the potential for water, carbon and nutrient storage, and thereby soil conditions.

The study was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

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Human-induced erosion could make some soils around the world unfarmable by the end of the century - ZME Science

Weve all likely stayed later at work when weve been super busy or had to catch up on work, however sadly, in recent years, long working days and taking work home has become the norm for many employees. Not only is this causing employees to miss out on enjoying the pleasures of life and spending quality time with family and friends, but it also might not be worth it for your health or wealth.

Last year, Microsoft trialed a four-day workweek, resulting in a 40% boost in productivity, suggesting that perhaps it isnt necessary for employees to be working overtime. Putting their lives and soul into their job when the same amount of work can be done in a considerably shorter amount of time. Productivity can be enhanced through technology. Some businesses may discover that the path to increasing productivity isnt working hard but working smart. With innovation in software, such as accounting software for small businesses, business productivity is constantly evolving.

Here, well look at different countries overtime and compare it to how well a companys economy is performing to see if theres a correlation. Will it be more favorable to work overtime in certain countries based on the hours they work a week?

From the data, South Africas workweek is the longest at 2,209 hours a year. Considering the long hours workers are putting in, their economy is worth $349.4 billion, the 10th smallest of the countries analyzed. South Africans have been hailed as some of the hardest working across the world. Research shows they are three times more likely to work a 60-hour workweek than their American counterparts, despite labor laws forbidding more than 45 hours a week.

Mexicos economy is worth $1.27 trillion, Costa Rica $57.06 billion, Korea $1.63 trillion, and Russia $1.64 trillion. Although Costa Ricas GDP is relatively small in comparison to other countries, it is a small but stable country that wouldnt generate trillions of dollars. In June 2018, South Koreans were forced to cut down on the hours they were working to introduce a better work-life balance and help boost the falling birth rate. With so many more Koreans previously working 50 hours or more a week than other countries, the GDP doesnt outrank many others.

Germany works the fewest hours per week at 1,362 a year, with 4.3% of the population working 50 hours or more. Considering a significantly lower workweek than other countries, Germanys economy is the third largest at $3.86 trillion. At the start of 2018, millions of Germans won the right to reduce their workweek to 28-hours to help them achieve a good work-life balance and spend more time with their loved ones and doing things they enjoy. It seems that countries dont need to work long hours to get more work done Germany has been recognized as one of the most productive countries with a booming economy despite a cut in hours, striking the ideal work-life balance while being 27% more productive than the UK.

The second country to work the fewest hours was Denmark (1,392) with 2.3% working 50 hours or more. The third was Norway (1,416) with 2.9%, fourth was Netherlands (1,433) at 0.4%, and fifth was Iceland (1,469) at a higher 15.1%.

Iceland has the smallest economy at $23.91 billion, followed by Finland at $251.9 billion, Denmark at $324.9 billion, and the Netherlands at $902.36 billion. A 2017 report found that Norway is one of the most productive countries despite having one of the shortest working weeks.

Lead researcher at Expert Market, Adelle Kehoe, said: Our data has shown, both this year and last year when we first ran the study, that there is a definite correlation between a shorter working week and productivity.

Countries that have shorter working weeks, in general, are more productive, whereas countries which have a culture of presenteeism and long hours get less out of their teams.

Theres more to life than work hopefully, more countries will realize that long hours dont necessarily mean productivity.

Here are 11 tips for maintaining a healthy work-home life balance. Click here.

Lucy Desai is a content writer at QuickBooks, covering a wide variety of topics from accounting and finance, to business and software.

http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/south-africa/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/01/the-countries-where-people-work-the-longest-hours/

https://qz.com/africa/1282780/south-africans-are-among-the-hardest-workers-in-the-world/

https://www.costarica.org/facts/economy/

https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-4-day-work-week-boosts-productivity-2019-11?r=US&IR=T

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/za/cloud-accounting-software/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/01/the-countries-where-people-work-the-longest-hours/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42959155

https://www.iamexpat.de/career/working-in-germany/working-hours

https://www.expertmarket.co.uk/crm-systems/the-ultimate-guide-to-work-place-productivity

https://www.thelocal.no/20170816/norway-most-productive-country-in-europe-research

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Is Working Long Hours Worth It In Your Country? - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

Sixty-something today has a completely different meaning today. In fact, it actually means being at your healthiest. Perhaps sixty-something could mean having more opportunities than ever before. Youre not getting old. Were being for real here. Think about 60-year-olds today, they often do the things 40-year-olds used to do. Moreover, its no longer a shock to hear about people working well into their 80s. Scientists believe this is because human lifespans might eventually extend to 150 or beyond. Insane right? So all those few of you who are sixty-something, youre technically spring chickens.

Experts in cognitive psychology are attempting to translate brain science for the public. This is so that we can better understand the neuroscience of aging and why it is changing. That moment when you get frustrated at yourself for losing your keys again. Or not being able to remember your friends name. Try not to beat yourself up over it. Even worse, dont blame your age! Neuroscience is discovering that us, sixty-something folk are actually just as smart now as we were in our youth.

You see, the study of the brain is a complex one. Mainly because we are always learning more about it and how it works. Information is ever-changing. Its a rapidly fast area of expertise and lots to study. Studies claim that two-thirds of the people over 65 who have ever lived are alive today (and three-quarters of those over 75). So theres definitely evidence that were healthier and living much longer than before. Were just as smart, if not more so too.

We need to start creating new perceptions of age in our minds. You can no longer picture stereotypical images of old frail ladies with walking sticks. Or grouchy old men in armchairs. Recent science argues for a very different vision of old age that sees our final decades as a resurgence. Maybe this is the time we truly live life. Perhaps were reborn when we reach sixty-something.

However, theres no doubt that there are going to be a few physical differences between an 80-year-olds and a 30-year-olds. But mentally there are some distinct advantages. For example, when you hit sixty-something you have much better control over your impulses. You also have the ability to delay gratification, to get along with others and make better decisions. This has a significant impact on the way your life unfolds.

I bet you wouldnt believe us if we told you thatlife after 75 can be a period of true intellectual growth? It is. According to research, at 80, the great cellist Pablo Casals was asked why he continued to practise so much. His reply was: Because I want to get better! Casals believed self-improvement was possible at any age and we agree. In fact, after youve reached sixty-something its been known to be a decade of true happiness. Why? Surveys show that aging and happiness often form a U-shaped curve. This is because the line dips slowly from your youth to your middle years. It then rises to your 40s and 50s.

However, about 1 in 3 people at sixty-something say theyre very happy. This is a bit more than those under 35. this is probably because youve finally learned to embrace all the good times and know that bad times will pass. However, the sixty-something decade can be difficult too. It depends on whether or not you choose to focus on those things. Sure, getting older can bring new challenges, like health, money worries and also the deaths of loved ones

This is not just because of their ability to be patient or embrace the good times. Its also because their brains, neurologically speaking, have gotten smarter and more aware. More often than not, whenever people are asked to pinpoint when in life they were happiest. If you ask any younger person most of them wont be able to tell you that they feel completely happy or content due to some worry or another.

Most people state that 82 is their happiest. I mean, wow, thats quite interesting. Is it really possible that we have to go our whole lives to truly learn what sustained happiness feels like? Thats why neuroscientists are trying to help raise that number by ten or even 20 years. Apparently, science says it can be done.

Thanks to Dr Daniel Levitin for the Daily Mail, weve got some myth-busting research to prove this. In fact, when you reach sixty-something, you are very far from losing your mind because in your golden years you are just entering our prime. Dr Daniels myth is:

MYTH:Memory declines steeply with age.

REALITY:It declines far less than you think.

Dr Daniel explains that the difference between a short-term memory lapse in a 70-year-old and one in a 20-year-old isnt what you think. He adds that hes taught undergraduates his entire career. And they make all kinds of short-term memory errors. In fact, they will walk into the wrong classroom; turn up to exams without a pencil; forget something that he taught two minutes ago. Guess what? These are very similar to the kinds of things 70-year-olds do. Or so we think.

Whats the difference between a twenty-something and a sixty-something mindset? Well, they each describe their memory loss differently. For example, a twenty-something will just think that theres a lot going on in their head. Or maybe they just need some more sleep. Whereas, when you reach an older age, your first thought is that you might be losing it. Like, youve got to be experiencing early-onset Alzheimers. Why is our first reaction simply to question the state of our brains health?

Youd be surprised at how life experience makes the brain significantly more powerful and smarter, and probably healthier. Thats just it though, as you experience more life. It brings you more wisdom. You are more likely to be in touch with what does or doesnt bring you joy and to be able to make choices accordingly. Thats the benefit of entering life as a sixty-something. We need to question why we have this perception of our elders as frail, forgetful, demented or even lost.

Were not saying thatAlzheimers and dementia-related memory impairments are not real. They are very real and very tragic. But just because you experience a burst of forgetfulness, in your short-term memory doesnt necessarily mean youve got a biological disorder.

According to neuroscientist Deborah Burke, of the Project on Cognition and Ageing at Pomona College, in California. When older sixty-something adults find it difficult to retrieve individual words, this is a by-product of atrophy in the left insula of the brain. This is the region associated with the phonological form of the word. What does this mean?

It means that at sixty-something, we dont actually forget the word itself, just the sound of it. Burke says this is why it feels as if its there on the tip of our tongues. Thats why as soon as somebody says the word, we recognise it immediately which means we have not forgotten the word. You wouldnt recognise the word at all if youd forgotten it.

So, as a matter of fact, we should be more gracious to our elders and sixty-something mentors. When they forget a word, note that they havent forgotten it. Its time to let go of those stereotypical grumpy old woman perceptions weve got going. We think thats probably why you get more tolerant and forgiving with age

It is possible that as you age and reach your sixty-something point in life, you might start to notice that your mind might not feel quite as sharp as before. But this doesnt necessarily mean your memory is declining. It might just mean youre taking slightly longer to recall names and facts, recognize patterns, or solve problems. However, on the upside, your vocabulary, knowledge, and long-term memory will likely only improve.

Recent studies state that the adult hippocampus is a part of the brain crucial to memory storage and retrieval. Apparently, this part of the brain grows 700 new neurons a day on average. Moreover, there seems to be no decline in that number with normal ageing. This same study conducted by Dr Daniel Levitin presents the following two myths:

MYTH:Older people are grumpy.

REALITY: Sixty-something folks are more affable than under-50s.

Lets face it. There is a common perception that youll enter a grumpy old man or woman phase in your sixty-something years. On the contrary, In fact, sixty-something adults are generally more concerned with making a good impression. They are more co-operative and get on easily with others. Moreover, this same study discovered that the chemical changes in the brain as it ages are more empathetic. Sixty-something people are often more understanding, forgiving, tolerant and accepting.

Whats even more interesting is how mood disorders, anxiety and behavioural problems decrease in the sixty-something years. These kinds of problems generally dont happen in your later years. I suppose we start to wisen up as we age and things dont feel as overwhelming because we know how to handle them. You should have formulated coping mechanisms into your sixty-something years. Interestingly, some people even describe their sixty-something years as a time of burning off their previously distressing mental states.

Take the singer and poet Leonard Cohen. He was amazed that his chronic depression, which no medication had been able to relieve, disappeared when he reached his 70s.

You see as you hit your sixty-something years, your brain level of practical intelligence peaks. Dealing with challenging situations in life happen often and those in their sixty-something years deal with them better than those younger than them. Logically we would just call this wisdom, which comes with age. However, in neuroscience wisdom is the ability to see patterns where others dont. It is when you are able to extract generalised common points from past experiences. Then you can use these to predict what is likely to happen next. That sounds pretty intelligent to me.

More importantly, we have the incredible ability to learn as we age. Its a myth to say that we cant continue learning. It just requires more time and patience and consistency to learn new things at the sixty-something mark and older.

Dont get us wrong, sleep is vital to our health. However, just because youre getting older and youve reached those sixty-something years doesnt mean youve got to sleep more.

Truth is that all of us, young or old, require at least eight hours of sleep a day. We all differ in our requirements, but as soon as you get less than five hours youll start showing major impairment. In fact, when we reach sixty-something and older we dont need more sleep. Its the changes in the ageing brain that make it difficult for older adults to get the sleep they need. Changes in neurochemistry, disruption of core body temperature rhythms and more frequent urination all lead to poor sleep quality and quantity.

Ultimately you want to make sleep a priority throughout your life despite your age. And when it is difficult to sleep, prioritize it even more. Poor sleep can increase the risks of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimers.

The bottom line is that when youre in your sixty-something years you need to prioritise sleep and practise good sleep habits. You also need to use your brain because its wiser and sharper than you think. Probably more so than ever before.

Beauty Product Review.If theres one tool that you need in your anti-aging beauty arsenal, its definitely oil serums. Heres why.

Dr Daniel Claims 70-Year-Olds And 20-Year-Olds Make Similar Memory Errors. The Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7984305/Youre-just-smart-youth-70-really-new-30.html

Cognition and Aging Lab. Pomona College. http://www.lcs.pomona.edu/cogaging/

Could your 60s and 70s be the best decades of life? The guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/membership/2017/feb/20/retirement-60s-best-decade-life-ageing-joy

What To Expect In Your Sixties. WebMD. https://www.theguardian.com/membership/2017/feb/20/retirement-60s-best-decade-life-ageing-joy

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Sixty-Something Could Be The Happiest Time Of Your Life - Longevity LIVE

Dear Rusty: It seems like we are always encouraged to wait until our full retirement age or age 70 to claim our Social Security. For me, benefits at age 62 were a good jump start to my retirement. How about listing the many benefits to early (age 62) retirement? And at what age does it become a liability, if ever? Happily Retired at age 78

Dear Happily Retired: Youre correct that most financial advisors and Social Security advisors, including me, frequently encourage people to delay claiming Social Security until at least their full retirement age (FRA). And thats because far too many claim their benefits as soon as they are available at age 62 because its there, without evaluating whether thats a smart move for them personally. There are many reasons why its best to wait, but there are also some very good reasons for claiming benefits at age 62. Lets explore those.

Claiming at age 62 is exactly the right move if you are in poor health and dont expect to live a long life. Benefits taken age 62 are 25% less for those with a full retirement age (FRA) of 66, and 30% less if your FRA is 67. But those reductions become insignificant if you dont expect to live a long, healthy life from that point forward. If you wait until your FRA, it takes about 12 years to collect the same amount in total benefits as if you had claimed at age 62.

Even if you are in decent health now, if your family history and your lifestyle suggest less than average longevity, claiming before your FRA, as early as 62, may be a prudent choice. By lifestyle I mean, for example, whether you exercise regularly, smoke or drink excessively or drive without a seatbelt.

There are several life expectancy calculators available which can assist with predicting your life expectancy by evaluating your family history and lifestyle, including those available at this website: https://socialsecurityreport.org/tools/life-expectancy-calculator/. Just remember that no one can accurately forecast how long they will live, but making an informed decision on when to claim should consider your estimated longevity, among other things.

If collecting your Social Security benefits early is needed to help pay for lifes necessities, such as food, housing and out-of-pocket medical costs, then claiming as early as age 62, or any other time before your FRA, could be exactly the right choice. In other words, the need for the money now is a driving force in deciding when to claim.

Which brings me to your point that claiming at age 62 was a jump start to your retirement, allowing you to begin enjoying your golden years much earlier than you might have otherwise been able to. Theres a lot to be said for taking benefits early to fulfill your bucket list while youre still young enough to enjoy it. And, from your signature, it looks like youve been putting that extra Social Security money to good use for many years now. Good for you!

Now, at age 78, youve reached your breakeven point where, if you had waited until your FRA to claim, your cumulative lifetime benefits would hereafter be more than they will be because you claimed at 62. That may not, however, offset the many years of happy retirement youve been able to enjoy because you took your benefits early.

In the end, deciding when to claim Social Security should be done after carefully evaluating your personal situation. Anyone who claims benefits before their full retirement age must beware of Social Securitys earnings test which limits how much you can earn before your benefits are affected.

But those who can afford to wait and who expect to live to a ripe old age would do well to consider delaying until their full retirement age, or even beyond, to claim their Social Security benefits. If their life expectancy is at least average theyll collect much more in cumulative lifetime benefits by doing so.

Russell Gloor is a certified Social Security adviser by the Association of Mature American Citizens: https://amac.us/social-security-advisor.

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Ask Rusty: Are there benefits to claiming SS at age 62? - Reading Eagle

On Sunday, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a record number of new confirmed coronavirus infections across the globe.

BBC writes that the global health organization reported 307,930 new cases worldwide over a 24-hour timespan. Notably, the largest increases were seen in the United States and Brazil two countries leading the world in the volume of COVID-19 cases, reportingmore than 6.5 million and 4.3 million cases, respectively.

Our country is in a historic fight against the Coronavirus. Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.

In between the U.S. and Brazil is India, the second country with the most COVID-19 infections. The country reportedly sawmore than 2 million cases occur in August, the highest monthly infection count reported since the pandemic began.

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Along with the U.S. and Brazil, India reported some of the highest recently confirmed cases on Sunday.

Worldwide, Johns Hopkins data indicates there are roughly 29millionconfirmed cases of the coronavirus.

Prior to Sundays spike in global COVID-19 infections, the previous record for a single-day increase in the coronavirus occurred on Sept. 6, when the WHO saw 306,857 positive infections.

The latest data to emerge from theWHO showcases a steady incline in newly confirmed cases worldwide, with the United States's new case count still trending upward, albeit at slower rates than seen over the summer months.

Deaths in the U.S. have largely plateaued, with the current record high having occurred on April 17, wheremore than 6,000 Americans died due to the virus.

In total,more than 194,000 Americans have lost their lives during the pandemic.

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FAUCI: WHY THE PUBLIC WASNT TOLD TO WEAR MASKS WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN

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WHO reports record-breaking one-day increase in coronavirus cases on Sunday | TheHill - The Hill

Bioscience entrepreneur Jim Mellon has spent lockdown preparing for webinars and questing for the elixir of youth

The pandemic seems to have been the result of intensive farming and agricultural malpractices in the Far East. If theres another one it could be a microbial one, which would be much worse it could be like the Black Death.

So we need to do something to change the food supply. I have a stake in Agronomics, which has invested $50 million so far on cell agriculture and clean meat.

You can amplify animal stem cells through a medium and create whatever meat youre trying to grow: chicken, pork or beef. We want to invest about $500 million by the end of 2021.

Most people want to live longer, but living a healthier life is more important especially the last 15 per cent of it. Ive been preparing for a webinar for clients of UBS that explains the science behind longevity.

Thats the major focus of my company Juvenescence and my colleague there Declan Doogan, Pfizers former head of drug development. Weve raised more than $170 million in the past 18 months, which makes it worth $330 million, and we plan to take it public by the end of 2020.

That should raise a further $300-500 million and make it one of the biggest in the field worldwide.

Our first products, which facilitate organ regeneration from liver cells, will be going through phase-II trials this autumn. Were filing eight new drug applications in the next two years and were also researching the possibility of regrowing the thymus, a gland just behind the sternum.

This is where the T-cells that fight viral infections such as Covid-19 are made. Older people have heavily compromised immune systems as fewer T-cells are made in the thymus.

Its the same area of research that opens up the possibility of regrowing other vital parts of our body such as the pancreas (for diabetics) and the kidneys. Weve also bought a portfolio of stem cells related to ageing, which is very exciting. And were only just starting.

Longevity science will, I think, lead to the biggest stock market boom ever. It will make the recent medical cannabis boom look like nothing. For the first time in the history of mankind, the elixir of youth, the promise of living a longer life, will actually come true.

There is no one pill that you can take, but a combination of several pharmaceuticals, gene therapies, gene-related technology and treatments could extend your lifespan to 120.

Im confident in predicting that the science of longevity will represent the biggest industry on the planet within 20 years, and that it will be affordable for everyone after about ten years of commercial exploitation.

It is important to note that were not predestined to die. But as time goes on, the healing process of our body gets overwhelmed wear and tear overwhelms repair.

We gradually go into a process called loss of homeostasis, which signals that our inner chemical balance is beginning to get upset, which eventually results in death.

There are some creatures out there, such as the C. elegans worm, which Googles ageing company Calico is studying, that are made up of atoms and molecules just like us but dont die naturally. Science has shown that the lifespan of a worm can be increased by up to 20 times using genetic manipulation.

Similar principles can apply to humans. There is a huge amount of bioscience activity in the UK, which is not widely known. There have been negative developments in the form of Neil Woodfords investments and the governments lack of funding in this area.

But now people like Sir John Bell are spearheading major efforts to build a home-grown industry. Increasingly, the nexus between VC universities and scientist-entrepreneurs thats made the US so successful in this field is developing in the UK.

More Juvenescence employees are based here than anywhere else, so were very much British. Its very important to us that the UK retains its status as the second major centre for life sciences in the world.

One of the reasons why the US is ahead is because drug prices are so high. If Joe Biden wins in November, they could come down.

Jim Mellon will be interviewed at the virtual Spears Wealth Insight Forum on the 29th of September. Click here to register.

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Dame Steve Shirley CH on Zoom, philanthropy and her upcoming biopic

Without philanthropists, the Old Vic would be a car park or a block of flats

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Jim Mellon Diary: My quest for the elixir of youth - Spear's WMS

Would knowing the date of your death influence your actions? It did for Tiberius Caesar. Convinced by the court astrologer Thrasyllus that he had many years of life ahead of him, the paranoid old emperor chose to postpone the murder of his heir Caligula.

But by believing Thrasylluss prediction and letting his guard down, Tiberius inadvertently gave Caligula enough time to poison him first. The rest, as they say, is history which Thrasyllus had altered by deliberately overestimating his employers life expectancy.

While many of us are unlikely to find ourselves in Caesars position, knowing how many years we have left may influence many aspects of our life including when to retire, whether to take a long-awaited vacation, and even whether to opt for certain medical treatments.

My Longevity, a newly developed app from researchers at the University of East Anglia, now allows each of us to be our own life expectancy astrologer. But how much trust should we place in these predictions?

Simply put, life expectancy is how long, on average, members of any given population can expect to life. This is different from lifespan, which is the maximum length of time any member of the species can survive.

Although lifespan has changed very little if at all global life expectancy has soared by more than 40 years since the beginning of the 20th century. This was achieved through a combination of scientific discoveries and public health measures that drove down infant mortality. In the UK, life expectancy at birth is now over 80 years.

Life expectancy depends a lot on where you grow up or live. So the more a disparate population can be broken down into sub-populations who have traits in common but which are still large enough to be statistically significant the more accurate predictions become. Doing this might involve subdividing the population by sex (on average females live longer than males) or smoking status (for obvious reasons) or both.

The team of researchers used a sophisticated version of this approach when developing their app, informed by its previous research. This allows its app to factor in the life expectancy effects of controlled and uncontrolled high blood pressure, the presence of related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease or rheumatoid arthritis, ongoing treatment with statins, and serious risk factors, such as high cholesterol.

Developing the app has involved dealing with some problems along the way in estimating potential health benefits for the overall population based on those seen in clinical trials. This is because discrepancies exist between trial subjects and populations for a number of reasons but usually they are cases of what is known as tight segmentation working against you.

For example, a clinical trial of the effects of orange juice in sailors with scurvy will show profound benefits because they are a tight segment with vitamin C deficiency. But anyone expecting to see the same beneficial effects on health from prescribing orange juice to everyone taking a boat trip today is going to be deeply disappointed.

How seriously you should treat the predictions from an app of this type is basically a function of how accurately it reflects the sub-population into which you best fit. I compared my life expectancy prediction from My Longevity with calculators provided by the UK Office for National Statistics and those of two insurance companies. The predictions varied from 84-90 years. As Im 54, this may not have been a completely fair test of My Longevity because the data the team has used makes the app most accurate for the over 60s.

The major reason life expectancy calculators spit out such different figures is because there are a wide range of factors influencing the results. Being married increases your life expectancy compared to being single, as does being happy. In addition to smoking, levels of fruit and vegetable intake influence life expectancy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, levels of alcohol consumption and exercise make a profound difference to life expectancy. These are concrete lifestyle changes people can make which can add years to their lives.

The East Anglia research team hopes that access to its calculator will encourage users to adopt healthier lifestyles. Although there is some evidence that framing behaviours in terms of their effects on life expectancy is an effective way of encouraging people to embrace healthier lifestyles, superficial discussions of health and longevity often assume that everyone will seek to maximise life expectancy if only they are fed enough of the facts about it.

However, human motivation is emotional and intuitive at its core and is shaped by what a person most values in life. Propositions that accord with a persons values are typically supported. Those that dont are either ignored or rejected.

Another common mistake made by those promoting behaviour change is to assume their own dominant values are shared by the people they want to adopt the behaviour in question. This approach will only convince people who already think and feel like them. But the more developers of such apps recognise that users will only adopt certain behaviours according to their values and beliefs, the more useful these apps will be.

More here:
Longevity app calculates your life expectancy but will it make us healthier? - The Conversation UK

Editors note: This is Part 2 of a four-part series on longevity in the High Country. The series is being produced in partnership with The Aspen Times, Vail Daily, Glenwood Post Independent, Summit Daily News and Steamboat Pilot & Today. Read more at steamboatpilot.com/longevity.

DENVER It isnt noticeable at first, starting with changes to the brain that the brain can compensate for, meaning no real impact on day-to-day functions or cognition.

But as time passes, the brain can no longer compensate for these changes and the damage its experiencing. Subtle problems with memory and thinking begin to pop up. Subtle turns to noticeable. Noticeable turns to inhibiting the ability to carry out everyday activities and eventually to requiring around-the-clock care.

This is the broad view progression from pre-clinical to severe Alzheimers disease, a degenerative brain disease that becomes worse with time and age and is the most common cause of dementia, as explained by the Alzheimers Association.

In Colorado, an estimated 76,000 people are living with Alzheimers dementia, and that number is expected to increase 21% to 92,000 by 2025, a 2020 Alzheimers Association report states. As of July 2019, 14.6% of Coloradans or roughly 840,000 people were 65 or older, U.S. Census data shows.

But while generally speaking its been shown that living in higher altitude communities in places like Steamboat Springs can lead to a more active, healthier lifestyle and even prolonged life, how does living at altitude impact and correlate with degenerative brain diseases that cause dementia, like Alzheimers?

In short, the answer is complicated and not well researched by scientists and clinicians, as explained by Dr. Huntington Potter, director of the Alzheimers and Cognition Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

As far as I know, there isnt a lot of evidence one way or another about high altitudes versus low altitudes for Alzheimers disease risk, Potter said. We cant say one way or another whether high altitude is a risk factor for Alzheimers.

Alzheimers disease is namely the result of the accumulation of the protein fragment beta-amyloid outside of neurons in the brain and of an abnormal form of the protein tau inside neurons, as described by the Alzheimers Association.

At the Alzheimers and Cognition Center, which is part of both the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and School of Medicine, clinicians and researchers are dedicated to discovering effective early diagnostics, preventions, treatments and ultimately cures for Alzheimers disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, according to its website.

For Potter, that means looking at biomarkers or diagnostic proteins in the blood that can help clinicians predict the disease earlier and conducting projects that look at the longitudinal sort of lifespan of people with Alzheimers disease and other research that can quickly be translated to better care, treatment and hopefully a cure.

Right now, the center is studying a drug called Leukine, which preliminary data shows may actually improve Alzheimers disease in the short term, Potter explained. The center also is studying other drugs that attack the disease, which so far are looking very promising as well.

Leukine may be the first one we found that looks promising, but we have several coming up that look promising as well, Potter said. Its been a tremendous privilege to work with all of the clinicians and scientists and scientist clinicians at the Alzheimers and Cognition Center, and were absolutely determined to make Colorado one of the places that discovers the cure for Alzheimers disease.

When it comes to looking at the potential correlation between living at high altitude and the risk for Alzheimers and other dementia-inducing diseases, Potter and Dr. Peter Pressman of the Alzheimers and Cognition Center said it would take great effort, time and funding to research.

Pressman, who is a behavioral neurologist and researcher with the center, said on top of securing and carefully selecting a large group of people living at altitude to participate in a study, researchers would also have to follow that group for around a decade to get meaningful results, which is not impossible but not easy.

Its easy to fund a study for a few years. People give you money to do something for two to three years, but two to three years is not enough time for a process as slow as Alzheimers and dementia to really even pick up, Pressman said. Im not saying thats not possible, its doable, but it would take some effort.

Looking at this potential correlation between living at high altitude and risk of Alzheimers dementia and others is not just a difficult feat for Colorado researchers little research with concrete findings exists nationally and globally as well.

One study published in 2015 by Dr. Stephen Thielke in JAMA Psychiatry looked at deaths attributed to Alzheimers dementia reported in 58 counties in California to try to determine whether rates of dementia were associated with average altitude of residence. The study found that the counties at higher elevation generally had lower rates of dementia mortality.

Oxidative abnormalities have been long proposed to be central to the pathogenesis of dementia, the study research letter states. One group of researchers previously found that hypoxia prevents neurodegeneration in rats in experimental Alzheimer disease and hypothesized that adaptation to induced hypoxia may prevent dementia. To our knowledge, our work is the first to find epidemiological evidence for such effects. Additional work is needed to determine whether this relationship holds in other populations.

But beyond this study, there isnt much conclusive evidence for or against a correlation, as emphasized by Dr. Brent Kious, a psychiatrist, assistant professor and researcher with both University of Utah Health and the schools Department of Psychiatry.

Kious has studied the link between living at high altitude and major depressive disorder, anxiety and suicide and said he and his research team have been interested in the impact of altitude on the incidence and median age of onset of Parkinsons disease, but has not studied this impact or the effects of altitude on dementia risk.

However, Kious said decrements in cognitive performance due to chronic exposure to moderately high elevation might not necessarily translate into an increased risk of dementia, since the symptoms of dementia depend both on baseline cognitive performance and on pathological neurodegenerative processes.

It is not clear whether altitude would affect those neurodegenerative processes or not, though there is some reason to think that they involve oxidative damage so relative hypoxia might slow them, Kious said via email. However, he went on to note that relative and prolonged hypoxia has also been associated with dementia risk, too. In any case, a good epidemiological study of the association between altitude and dementia should control for things that might be associated with both.

While there may not be good data for or against high altitude as an Alzheimers and dementia risk factor, there is evidence that people living in more rural communities do not have the same access to dementia care and treatment as those living in urban areas.

According to the 2020 Snapshot of Rural Health in Colorado, produced by the Colorado Rural Health Center, 721,500 people are living in rural Colorado and 19% of the rural population is age 65 or older. Rural is defined as a non-metropolitan county is no cities over 50,000 residents, the snapshot report says.

While there are some dementia care resources in more rural Colorado communities, the Alzheimers and Cognition Center is working to do more to develop meaningful relationships with health care providers and dementia patients in the states mountain communities as part of its mission.

According to Pressman, who is heading this charge on behalf of the CU center, a lot of projects are in the planning stages and process of acquiring funding but include virtually educating medical providers, nurse practitioners and primary care doctors on Alzheimers and general healthy brain aging and mutual, participatory research with rural Colorado communities and communities of color.

Pressman explained that a lot of research related to Alzheimers overwhelmingly is based on middle class, well-educated, white participants. And so while researchers think they know a lot about the disease in general, they really only know about the disease related to this demographic group.

Through the centers outreach and efforts to better connect with underrepresented communities, Pressman hopes to conduct better science and better serve the larger Colorado community.

What motivates me is trying to do good work, trying to do good science and to makes sure our results actually represent real life, Pressman said. We want to make sure were helping everybody, not just a niche group, and that our services are available equitably to as many people as possible.

Although theres no clear correlation between living in higher altitude, mountain communities and dementia and Alzheimers risk, it is clear that as Americas aging population reaches 65 and older, these medical conditions will remain a relevant risk for seniors.

Maddie Vincent is a reporter at The Aspen Times. She can be reached at mvincent@aspentimes.com.

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The Longevity Project Part 2: An unclear correlation Colorado clinicians and researchers talk Alzheimer's risk, care in mountain communities -...

Which risk factors pose the greatest threat to a retirees finances?

The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (CRR) recently published a paper taking a deep dive in search of answers.

The researchers looked at five factors and offered objective answers, as well as subjective answers from retiree interviews.

They considered five risk factors: longevity risk (outliving your money); market risk (investment losses); health risk; family risk (unforeseen need of a family member); and policy risk (such as cuts to Social Security benefits).

Survey participants viewed market risk as the greatest threat, due to the participants exaggeration of market volatility, according to the survey authors.

The CRR study suggests retirees should reassess the risks.

Objectively, the study found longevity risk, followed by health risk, to be the most serious factors.

So, could it be that the scariness of stock market crashes clouds our judgment?

Could it be we worry too much about market risk because its here and now, while living very long or developing health problems is something that may happen later, if at all?

If your account statement shows a large drop, you know exactly how big a hit youve taken. It poses an immediate and measurable risk to your finances.

If your doctor tells you your cholesterol is too high or that you need to lose weight well, you may feel fine, so how bad can it be? Doctors are programmed to warn about that stuff, anyways.

Sometimes, I hear people men in particular pooh-pooh the chance of their living a long life. They may say something to the effect of my dad died before 80; I likely wont last much longer. As if heredity were the only, or even dominant, factor.

Read more from the original source:
Jorgen Vik: What are the five greatest threats to your retirement finances? - The Daily Progress

National life expectancy data is not a suitable tool for retirement planning, an expert has warned.

Joseph Lu, director of longevity science at Legal & General Retail Retirement Income, made the warning at this week's FTAdviser webinar The Long and Short of Longevity Risk.

He said: National life expectancy data is not suitable for planning as it implies there is a one in twochance of outliving the figure.

"It doesnt account for health, wealth and other important factors.

If we would like a 90 per cent chanceof achieving life-long financial security, for age 65, plan for living to 100. This means planning for 35 years."

But he added: "It is not just the length of life that matters. I would also want to think about health which in turn determines needs in retirement.

Mr Lu highlighted recent research by the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, which showed that a couple would need almost 29,100 each year to achieve a moderate retirement, but 47,500 for a comfortable retirement.

His sentiments were echoed by Bruce Guthrie, professor of general practice at the University of Edinburgh, who said although statistics can help, they are not a guarantee.

He said: Prediction tools can help focus a clinicians mind and focus a patients mind, but these tools should not be certainty.

During the webinar, advisers heard how statistical models can be built into the client's planning process but that these should be part of an overall conversation with the individual, as there are many behavioural and personal biases around longevity and mortality that will need to be factored into pension planning.

Jon Scannell,distribution director for Legal & General Retail Retirement Income, noted that it is useful to pay attention to a variety of factors. He told listeners there were 'four Ls' that could prove a good starting-point for conversations around making the pension pot last.

These are: "Legacy, Liquidity, Lifestyle and Longevity". The challenge is for advisers to be able to balance client expectations for retirement with the facts around lifestyle, health, mortality and the various other risks that can have an effect on a pension pot.

The webinar, which was sponsored by L&G and is available online for a month, also discussed the impact of talking to clients about life expectancy, and how advisers can de-risk their business.

aamina.zafar@ft.com

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Longevity risk: The key questions answered - FT Adviser

Dr. Hinohara was still treating patients and clocking 18-hour workdays up to a few months before he passed away. He clearly loved what he did, and he was fortunate to have a sense of purpose saving lives.

Possibly my favorite piece of wisdom he shared was the concept that when you have a long life expectancy, you can spend the first 60 years working for you and your family, then the next 40 years working for the greater good and contributing to make the world a better place giving you a sense of greater purpose.

Remember the Gallup Work Engagement Study?

Lets be realistic about the world we live in today. Only 1 in 5 people truly love their work like Dr. Hinohara did. Most big companies call you family, but in the end, they serve their shareholders. Surplussing is one of the new and more despicable terms for sugarcoating when a company needs to lay people off theres a surplus of humans here, so lets reduce the surplus. Not to mention, from ages 55 to 65, you may not have the choice to keep working at your primary job.

The result? One in 5 people in the U.S. downright hate their jobs, another 3 in 5 could take it or leave it. So, 4 out of 5 workers dont share Dr. Hinoharas love of work and a sentiment to never retire.

Keep in mind I wrote You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think, so Im a little biased toward Americans being able to stop working at their current job long before age 105. However, one of the main components thats paramount to an early and happy retirement is having multiple activities/projects/endeavors that youre passionate about working on. I call these, core pursuits. Its something that Dr. Hinohara clearly had down pat.

Put core pursuits at the center of your retirement planning.

First of all, losing the dignity of work isnt easy for most people. Remember the study from Harrys that said the No. 1 predictor of a mans happiness is his job satisfaction and his feeling of impact at his company and career? Americans, both men and women, love to work and love to earn if their productivity is channeled in the right direction.

It isnt easy to replicate the energy, challenge and accomplishment you get from work its almost like rigorous exercise. The workout or run may hurt, but it makes you stronger, and healthier. In some respects, continuing to work, particularly at something you enjoy doing, offers similar benefits.

Just look at Jimmy Buffett. He made a living of singing about wastin' away again in Margaritaville, but when you look at the empire that hes built with his music, beverages, real estate, restaurants and other merchandise, its easy to see that this guy works his tail off to sell the idea of a relaxing life to others. And based on his success and his reported half-a-billion dollar net worth, its clear that hes not just in it for the money these days.

The end result of working similar to a long run or workout at the gym is very difficult to replace. So, the HROBs Happiest Retirees on the Block of the world re-create their work stimulation by deploying a long series of core pursuits.

Maybe yoga, gardening, fishing, hiking, biking, running, walking, golfing, going to church, crafting or art ends up not being enough. Thats OK. Maybe you can transition your skills into a very involved volunteer role or lower-paying nonprofit job. Maybe its starting your own small business. Consider a teaching, coaching or mentoring role. Write a book. Start a website. Join a band. Become a tour guide or historian in your town. Put your cooking skills to use to feed your community. Your core pursuits can lead you to a more fulfilling future while adding life to your years.

Get going and get growing.

I get what Dr. Hinohara was saying, but beyond following a sparse diet and taking the stairs, his advice to work forever just wont work for most Americans. We have to work and save so we can have the economic freedom to follow our passions. Its something thats typically unrealistic if you have a new mortgage and are trying to raise a family. Happy retirees find themselves in the opposite position. They can take on a job or career thats focused on feeding their soul rather than financing their family.

Remember Dr. Hinoharas reflection that once youve raised your family, the next phase of your life (60-plus) can be focused on you and the greater good around you.

Curiosity killed the cat, but a lack of curiosity is what kills the happy retiree.

Wes Moss has been the host of Money Matters on News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB in Atlanta for more than 10 years now, and he does a live show from 9-11 a.m. Sundays. He is the chief investment strategist for Atlanta-based Capital Investment Advisors. For more information, go to wesmoss.com.

DISCLOSURE

This information is provided to you as a resource for informational purposes only and is not to be viewed as investment advice or recommendations. This information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. This information is not intended to, and should not, form a primary basis for any investment decision that you may make. Always consult your own legal, tax, or investment adviser before making any investment/tax/estate/financial planning considerations or decisions.

Original post:
Wes Moss: You dont have to work forever, but you can use your talents - Atlanta Journal Constitution

For instance, the bacteria on your mask may make its way to your hands, and it could then spread from here.

That said, its advisable to wash your hands before you take off your mask. Its also best that you dont touch the front of the mask as you take it off. Rather, take it off by unlooping or untying the strands from your ears, making sure to avoid touching the front.

Mistake #5: Youre Wearing the Wrong Size

Theres no point in wearing a face mask if it doesnt fit well. If its too small, then youre probably leaving your nose exposed and if its too loose, then viral particles are more likely to get in through the side openings. Whats more, if your mask doesnt fit well then youre going to be constantly readjusting it, which then increases the risk of contamination.

Your mask should fit snugly on your face, but not so tight to the point where it makes it difficult to breathe normally.

Additionally, facial hair may make it harder to wear a mask so you may want to think about trimming your beard.

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12 Face Mask Mistakes You Need To Stop Making - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

2020 Lexus GS350: Does GS stand for Grandpa's Sedan?

Price: $58,335 as tested. The All-Weather Package added $290; 19-inch wheels, $660; power trunk, $400; park assist, $500; heated steering wheel and open-pore trim, $800. More mentioned throughout.

Conventional wisdom: Car and Driver liked the "refined driving dynamics, huge trunk, extensive range of standard features," but not that "fuel economy trails that of several rivals; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren't offered; underwhelming cabin design."

Marketer's pitch: "Experience amazing."

Reality: It's a Grandpa Sedan, but maybe he knows a thing or two, right?

What's new: I've never been convinced that the latest thing is always the best. I take the long-term approach to life and tend not to be an early adopter. Best to stick with simple and familiar.

Well, the GS may not be so simple, but it's certainly familiar. The latest generation of GS was introduced for the 2016 model year, and its age is really starting to show. And while the 2020 is the end of the GS line, don't write it off your list just yet.

Up to speed: The 3.5-liter V-6 engine creates 311 horsepower, plenty of oomph for a standard sedan. The translates into nice acceleration, with a 0 to 60 of 5.8 seconds, according to Car and Driver.

On the road: I had a rare opportunity (these days) to take the GS350 out on a longish trip, to visit Sturgis Grandma 1.0 while she recuperates from a broken hip.

The all-wheel-drive test model handled the turnpike smoothly, but without giving any real reason to get excited. It's a four-door sedan from Toy er, Lexus, and it actually felt a lot like last generation's Avalon, a real road sailor of the old Ford LTD variety. I thought it would feel better out on the open road, somehow smoother and ready to cruise, but I found the GS350 liked to wander and waver.

The GS350 really shone, though, closer to home. No, it didn't make winding country roads a delight, but it sure felt smooth and sure-footed on the more gentle bends, and hill-climbing is a real strength. Sport mode makes the handling tighter, but the acceleration turns a little too wild.

Shifty: The pricey luxury sedan does it all with last generation's gearbox. That's a six-speed automatic driving the wheels.

The vehicle seemed to rely on downshifting for a lot of braking and often seemed to get "stuck" in a lower gear in a variety of situations. For instance, say you were coming upon a state trooper parked by the side of the road, so you needed to let off the gas in a hurry because, lo, the car just got away from you there. So while suddenly scooting back toward the high 60 mph range, the vehicle chose fourth gear. And stayed there. An unwelcome phenomenon, indeed both the gear selection and the, uh, roadside reminder.

Driver's Seat: Like most Lexii, the GS350 certainly offers drivers a comfortable saddle. The Premium Package ($1,760) turns the leather seats warm or cold at the touch of a button (and also offers rain sensing wipers and rear sunshade). It's roomy and spacious with a lot of dashboard in view, like Grandpa's old LTD as well.

Friends and stuff: The rear seat provides a comfortable space, but not nearly as roomy as the bulky exterior of the sedan would have you believe. Though legroom invites stretching, a low front seat nibbles away foot room while a low roof tightens headroom.

Cargo space is cavernous 18.4 cubic feet.

Play some tunes: The Mark Levinson stereo system ($1,180) features 17 speakers, 835 watts, and premium surround. Sound quality is about an A-, great at high volumes but not much in a more normal range.

Lexus gives this vehicle last generation's infotainment controls, though, and that's a good thing. Today's standard-issue touchpad can be a challenge to direct, but the GS350 gets the old joystick control. Bump up, down, left, or right to move around the screen. Better than a touchpad, but it still requires too much attention to be effective. Our eyes are supposed to be on the road, right, Lexus?

Night shift: The interior lights cast a friendly, subtle glow. LED headlights shine clearly and in the right places, a feature not often standard with the LEDs.

Fuel economy: I averaged 23 mpg in a long highway test and a couple of short runs near home. Feed the GS350 premium, natch.

Where it's built: Aichi, Japan.

How it's built: Consumer Reports predicts the GS350 reliability to be a 5 out of 5.

In the end: If you're in the market for a luxury sedan with comfort, some decent handling, and a good chance at longevity, the end of the GS line may give you a shot at a bargain and a Lexus without a stereo touchpad control.

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The Lexus GS350: longevity for a bargain - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com

Creating a vaccine that would be injected into the arms of millions of people is a usually a years-long endeavor. Not only is the process slowed by trial and error and first-time failures, it's also traditionally restricted by rigorous clinical trials that in their final stages can give public health authorities a reasonable idea of whether a vaccine is safe and effective.

But not even a full year after the first infection from the novel coronavirus in China was documented, the White House is now saying a vaccine could be fast-trackedas soon as early November.

A safe, effective shot produced so rapidly would be unprecedented. It could also save tens of millions of Americans from falling ill with Covid-19 and prevent countless deaths. And the U.S. could desperately use a shot in the arm in its losing fight against the outbreak: Nearly 6.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with the virus -- with some severely sickened-- and nearly 200,000 have been killed.

But what if a hastily rolled out vaccine that skips the final stages of study turns out to have unforeseen problems -- either with safety or efficacy? What happens, for example, if millions of vials are distributed of a prematurely OK'd vaccine and then it turns out to be inferior to a better one that completes all trials months later? What if fading antibodies mean a vaccine's protection wears off after only a short time -- a possibility that can't be known with trials only carried out over several months? Would your own physician even recommend a fast-tracked vaccine if it lacked key data that would be typically expected for review?

To sort through these questions, we asked Dr. Otto O. Yang, a veteraninfectious disease expert and medical doctor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Yang specializes in clinical infectious diseases, and his laboratory focuses on T-cell immunology in HIV infection, as it relates to developing immune therapies and vaccines for HIV and other diseases and infections.

While it would be impossible to predict which of the dozens of vaccine candidates might be most likely to see early approval, said Yang, the two leading candidates could be themRNA nanoparticle vaccine byModerna (MRNA) - Get Reportand therecombinant adenovirus one byOxford University and AstraZeneca (AZN) - Get Report.

"From the limited amount of data Ive seen" that's publicly available, said Yang, "it looks like both vaccine candidates generate the right types of antibodies that we would expect to be effective at preventing infection. And, they both generate T-cell responses, which could be effective in more than one way."

But there are many other factors at play in creating a Covid shot -- and there could be unexpected consequences of speeding through vaccine approvals or just running with the first one that looks acceptable.

Yang was reached by phone this week by TheStreetto discuss these vaccine projects, the possibility for a fast-track OK and potential pitfalls. The following is an edited version of the interview.

TheStreet: Specifically, looking at the vaccine project by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, Ive heard some concern that it might prevent the development of full-blown disease in patients, but might not prevent the spread of the virus from one person to another. What are your thoughts?

Yang: Its a theoretical possibility. So, if a vaccine doesnt fully protect somebody from getting infected, its possible they could get a milder infection. Even with the flu vaccine that we get annually, in some cases it appears to make infection milder, even if it doesnt protect you from getting infected. But I think its most likely that even if somebody did get infected, the immune responses that would be put in place by the vaccine would probably reduce symptoms and reduce severity. If so, it would most likely reduce the degree to which somebody is contagious. Its a theoretical concern, but not something that I would be that worried about.

TheStreet: In a general sense, weve seen reports about, and youve researched, the potential for fading of antibodies. Is there a concern that there could be a vaccine that is safe and it seems to work and then, say six months down the road, somebody gets infected, though they were vaccinated?

Yang: Its definitely a possible scenario. Potentially dropping antibodies might mean that immunity will wane, but its not entirely clear that thats true. The fact is that immunology is kind of a black box and we dont know for sure that antibodies are the whole story for protecting somebody from infection. The data are worrisome that protection will be short-lived for natural infection. And there recently have been increasing news reports of people getting reinfected. That does raise concerns for the longevity of protection from a vaccine, and, of course, short-term vaccine trials are not going to be able to tell us about longevity.

That does raise concerns for the longevity of protection from a vaccine, and, of course, short-term vaccine trials are not going to be able to tell us about longevity.

But one of the big unknowns is whether the vaccine could actually do a better job at making antibodies or T-cell responses than natural infection itself. The study that we did on dropping antibodies was on people who were naturally infected and had fairly mild disease. It is clear that people with more severe infection have fairly high antibody levels, so a vaccine could look more like that like a person who has a more severe infection and fairly high levels of antibodies.

The other thing is, we dont know if the virus actually has mechanisms to interfere with immune response. Many viruses have evolved to have ways to blunt the immune response to enhance their survival. From an evolutionary standpoint, if the immune system is trying to do something to reduce the virus, then the virus can evolve to counter that. If thats the case with this virus if immune response is short-lived because the virus is actively doing something to the immune system to cause that a vaccine could theoretically do better, because the vaccine is not the whole live virus. It might not have that negative impact on the immune system. Well have to just wait and see.

TheStreet: Do you think fast-tracking a vaccine by, say, skipping or shortening the final clinical trials, would be warranted? Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, China and many other countries have proven that the spread of Covid-19 can be mostly controlled with public health measures.

Yang: So, theres the ideal, theoretical answer, and theres the practical answer. Unfortunately, we are much less like Taiwan or New Zealand, than we are like Brazil. From the standpoint that this country has been unable to implement effective public health measures, for whatever reason, that makes the urgency for a vaccine higher. Ideally, we would be able to get the pandemic under control to an acceptable level and take our time with the vaccine. But theres added urgency, because, for various reasons, were unable to do that theres not enough public buy-in, theres not enough political leadership. Whatever the reasons, were unable to contain it, and the pandemic is just burning on and lives are being lost, so that adds greater urgency for a vaccine

TheStreet: Would you take a fast-tracked vaccine would you recommend it to friends or family?

Yang: It would really depend on what data were available ... safety data being No. 1., and, of course efficacy. I would say that I would certainly be cautious and hesitant, because I feel that the Food and Drug Administration has lost a lot of its credibility, because of its bowing to political pressures. Its already made major fumbles during this pandemic. So I would go with what experts say, and if there is not enough available data to make me feel comfortable to recommend it, then I would say dont take it. Because, as you pointed out, with the right measures, you can prevent spread and you can(potentially)protect yourself from getting infected. So, until its clear that a vaccine is safe and effective, we can each protect ourselves.

TheStreet:That brings up another question. Lets say a vaccine is fast-tracked and millions of doses are produced, and, then, say, several months later, a problem is discovered with the vaccine. At the same, lets say, another vaccine that finishes all its trials comes along and it looks great. Would that pose a logistical problem for distributing the latter, better vaccine could it cause a vaccine production traffic jam?

Yang: Yes, in more ways than one. Lets, for argument, say one vaccine is 50% effective and the other is 75% effective, what do you do? What do you do with all these 50% effective vaccine vials you have sitting around? Is there going to be motivation to get them out and get them used? It raises all sorts of questions about what would happen. What would be the threshold for saying you just throw out the first vaccine which would be at a huge cost? Another point to raise is potentially the first vaccine could interfere with the second. The first vaccine might steer your immune responses in ways that are less effective than the second would have. To some extent, the immune system tends to be trained in a certain way, and once its trained, its hard to get it to change. Theoretically, there could be interference.

Potentially the first vaccine could interfere with the second.

Theres a concept in immunology called original antigenic sin. The concept is that the immune system tends to want to react to something the same way every time, so if you challenge it with something that looks very similar, but is not exactly the same, it will still stick to the original way that it responded. That is the explanation for Dengue fever. Dengue fever is a disease where you get very mild illness the first time you are exposed, and if you get exposed again, to a second strain, then you can get hemorrhagic Dengue fever, which is a very severe, life-threatening infection, and that is because the immune system is still stuck on the first strain and unable to adapt to the second strain. So, you can see something like that happening, as well. Its not that straightforward.

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Fast-Tracking Covid Vaccine 'Is Not That Straightforward' - TheStreet

A new grant will look at the effects of aging caused by antiviral therapies in individuals with HIV.

People living with HIV are fortunate that effective therapies are now available that dramatically reduce mortality for those infected with that virus. Despite the effects of antiviral therapy on longevity, people living with HIV are showing signs of accelerated aging.

University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biology Chair Steve Austad, Ph.D., received a National Institutes of Health five-year grant for $3.7 million to study the intersection of HIV and aging.

People with HIV using antiviral therapy are experiencing earlier onset of age-related diseases including heart disease, cancer and dementia. The grant through a collaboration of multiple institutions led by UAB, the University of Washington and Wake Forest University is designed to provide interdisciplinary training to researchers and clinicians in both HIV and aging biology. Investigators will use the knowledge gained from research working at the junction of aging and HIV biology to improve clinical treatment and care of people living with HIV.

Further, the grant will provide pilot grant support for projects involving molecular links between HIV infection and aging. Researchers will collaborate with the UAB Center for AIDS Research and the McKnight Brain Institute.

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$3.7 million grant awarded to UAB to study antiviral therapies and accelerated aging - The Mix

White House coronavirus advisor Anthony Fauci on Friday said life may not get back to normal in the U.S. until late 2021 when a COVID-19 vaccine could be widely distributed.

During an interview with MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell Reports, the nations top infectious diseases expert said hes confident a vaccine could receive emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of this year or early 2021, but it will take some time before it becomes widely available.

Our country is in a historic fight against the Coronavirus. Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.

By the time you mobilize the distribution of the vaccinations, and you get the majority, or more, of the population vaccinated and protected, thats likely not going to happen to the mid or end of 2021, Fauci told MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell.

If you're talking about getting back to a degree of normality which resembles where we were prior to COVID[-19], it's going to be well into 2021, maybe even towards the end of 2021, he said.

Movie theaters, gyms and other public spaces are reopening in some states, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week announced New York City would resume indoor dining with limited capacity on Sept. 30. New York has managed to keep its coronavirus infections rate under 1 percent for more than 30 days.

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Fauci said he had some concerns about restaurants reopening.

If you go indoors in a restaurant, whatever capacity, 25, 50 percent or what have you, indoors absolutely increases the risk, Fauci said. I am concerned when I see things starting to move indoors, and that becomes more compelling when you get into the fall into winter season when you essentially have to be indoors.

He said areas that want to get back to being able to sit inside a restaurant should get the community level of infection to the lowest level possible.

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. have plateaued around 40,000 daily new cases and 1,000 deaths a day. Fauci during a panel discussion with doctors from Harvard Medical School Friday said that number is still an unacceptable baseline and hed like to see the number of daily cases fall to 10,000 or less.

As of Friday, more than 6.4 million people in the U.S. have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 192,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

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Fauci says it may take more than a year to return to 'a degree of normality' | TheHill - The Hill

More than500,000 children in the U.S. have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The AAP report found children represent about 9.8 percent of the more than 6.3 million coronavirus cases recorded in the U.S. The report includes data from 49 states, New York City, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam.

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More than 70,000 coronavirus infections were recorded among children in the two weeks between Aug. 20 and Sept. 3, bringing the total number of cases in kids to more than 513,000. Puerto Rico, as well as Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, Kentucky and Indiana showed the highest increases.

Nine states tallied more than 15,000 cases in children while half of states reported 7,000 child cases.

The AAP said data from 42 states and New York City showed 103 children died from COVID-19 between May 21 and Sept. 3, making up just 0.07 percent of total coronavirus deaths in the U.S. Only 0.02 percent of child coronavirus cases resulted in death.

At this time, it appears that severe illness due to COVID-19 is rare among children, the AAP report said. However, states should continue to provide detailed reports on COVID-19 cases, testing, hospitalizations, and mortality by age and race/ethnicity so that the effects of COVID-19 on childrens health can be documented and monitored.

Evidence suggests children who contract the virus are less likely to experience serious illness than adults. There have been several instances in which children who tested positive for the coronavirus also developed a rare inflammatory illness.

The report from the AAP was released as millions of kids made their way back to school this week for the fall semester.

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More than 500,000 children in the U.S. have tested positive for coronavirus since pandemic began, report finds | TheHill - The Hill