Here's 8 Habits That Could Lengthen Your Life

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• July 24, 2023
• Full Page

Eight healthy habits could add years to your life.

A new study of more than 700,000 U.S. veterans breaks down the habits that when adopted by middle age, can help someone live substantially longer than folks who don't have these habits.

These are the big eight:

Social Lives Can Thrive in Walk-Friendly Neighborhoods

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 22, 2023
• Full Page

Living in a walkable neighborhood fosters socialization and helps create a strong sense of community, new research shows.

Among the active behaviors these walkable neighborhoods promote are walking for leisure or as transportation to school, work shopping or home.

How to Help Someone Dealing With Depression

• Mandi Harenberg HealthDay Reporter
• March 3, 2023
• Full Page

There is little that is harder than watching a loved one struggle with depression. So what can you do?

More than you might think, experts say.

First, depression is a mood disorder that can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, socioeconomic status or gender. Symp...

Skip the Texts: Face-to-Face Meetings Make College Students Happier

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• August 4, 2022
• Full Page

In a world where everyone spends more and more time with eyes fixed on their phones, new research suggests young people feel happier after socializing with friends in person rather than virtually.

The conclusion is an outgrowth of nearly four years spent analyzing how so...

Even Chores, Socializing Might Lower Your Odds for Dementia

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• July 28, 2022
• Full Page

Your daily walk, cleaning the house and lunch with friends could together be keys to staving off dementia, according to researchers.

A new study looked at lifestyle habits...

Friends Want to Hear From You More Than You Think

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• July 12, 2022
• Full Page

If you've ever hesitated to text or email friends you haven't seen in a while, a new study has a reassuring message: They'll probably appreciate it more than you think.

In a series of experiments involving nearly 6,000 adults, researchers found that, in general, people u...

Being Social May Be Key to 'Sense of Purpose' as You Age

• By Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling HealthDay Reporter
• July 12, 2022
• Full Page

Want to feel you matter after you retire? Start socializing, a new study suggests.

Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis found that positive connections with other people were associated with a sense of purposefulness in older adults.

Having a

Study Spots Key Factor in Kids' Friendships

• By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 30, 2022
• Full Page

While kids in a classroom are likely to be familiar with all their classmates after a short time, the children they are assigned to sit near are likely to become their closer friends, a new study suggests.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University found that after se...

Smells Like Friendship: Similar Body Odors May Draw Folks Together

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• June 24, 2022
• Full Page

You and your best friend may have your noses to thank in helping bring you together, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that pairs of friends who'd just "clicked" upon meeting tended to smell more alike, compared to random pairs of strangers. What's more, a high-tec...

'You Didn't Tag Me!' Instagram Snubs Hurt, Study Confirms

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• December 21, 2021
• Full Page

Think what happens online stays online? Think again.

According to new research, a social media diss can leave people feeling genuinely hurt and ostracized.

"Social media ostracism means being excluded or ignored online on social media networks like Instagram, Face...

As Holidays Return to Normal, Here's How to De-Stress

• November 26, 2021
• Full Page

A return to a more normal holiday season may also mean higher stress levels, so an expert offers some coping tips.

Don't get too focused on buying the perfect presents, making the best dinner or planning the perfect party. Try to be mindful of pleasant things and moments...

Do Your Genes Up Your Odds for Alcoholism? One Factor Cuts the Risk

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• September 16, 2021
• Full Page

Even when genetics and personality are working against you, having a strong network of supportive friends and family may help lower alcoholism risk, researchers say.

"Genes play an important role in alcohol use," stressed Jinni Su, an assistant professor of psychology at...

Could You Help Prevent a Suicide? Know the Warning Signs

• September 12, 2021
• Full Page

Knowing the warning signs of suicide can save a life, experts say.

Suicide is the 10th leading overall cause of death in the United States, and number two among people between the ages of 10 and 34.

Most suicides result from depression. It can cause someone to feel...

Having Someone Who'll Listen May Be Good for Your Aging Brain

• Robert Preidt
• August 20, 2021
• Full Page

Could the constancy of a sympathetic ear help guard your brain against the ravages of aging?

Yes, claims new research that analyzed data on nearly 2,200 American adults and found those in their 40s and 50s who didn't have someone to listen to them had a mental ("cognitiv...

Friends, Family Key to Turning a 'No' on Vaccination to a 'Yes'

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• July 16, 2021
• Full Page

Public health officials and government workers are trying everything they can to promote COVID-19 vaccination -- advertisements, news releases, cash lotteries, and even incentives like free beer, joints or doughnuts in some places.

But nothing sways a vaccine-hesitant pe...

Most Romantic Couples Started Out as Friends, Study Finds

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• July 14, 2021
• Full Page

Some think that romance begins when two strangers catch each other's eye across a crowded room. Others seek it out by swiping right.

But new research suggests that more than two-thirds of all romantic relationships begin as friendships.

It's a question that Danu An...

Even Preschoolers Want to Be in the 'In Crowd,' Study Finds

• May 31, 2021
• Full Page

People aren't born understanding social norms, but kids do have a desire to fit in with the crowd from an early age, according to a new study.

Researchers from Duke University in Durham, N.C. found that when 3-year-olds were asked to behave in a certain way and did so, t...

Feeling Down? Support Via Social Media May Not Be Enough

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• May 10, 2021
• Full Page

Looking for a morale boost or some solid encouragement? If so, socializing the old-fashioned way -- live and in-person -- will likely do more to lift your spirits than online interactions, new research suggests.

It's the key takeaway from a survey of more than 400 colleg...

Talking Points: People Rarely End Conversations When They Want To

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• March 3, 2021
• Full Page

Ever been caught in small-talk you secretly wanted to end?

So has nearly everyone else, according to new research that finds that both partners in a conversation often want it to end sooner than it does.

The flip side is often true, as well. Study author A...

Loneliness Continues to Rise for Americans Under Lockdown

• Denise Mann
• December 15, 2020
• Full Page

Loneliness, particularly among folks under shelter-in-place orders, is a growing issue for Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, new research finds.

More people report they are feeling lonely, depressed and even harboring thoughts of suicide as COVID-19 cases in the...

Amid Lockdowns, Online Exercise Classes Help Seniors Feel Less Alone

• Cara Murez
• November 17, 2020
• Full Page

Participating in group exercise classes is good for seniors and not just in the ways one might expect.

The classes reduce loneliness and social isolation, according to a new study. And early results suggest that's true even after the coronavirus pandemic forced those cla...

Staying Social Can Boost Healthy 'Gray Matter' in Aging Brains

• Cara Roberts Murez
• October 19, 2020
• Full Page

Older adults who get together with friends, volunteer or go to classes have healthier brains, which could help them ward off dementia, according to a new study.

Researchers who used brain imaging to examine brain areas involved in mental decline found that greater soci...

Adult Life Tougher for Teens Who Had Controlling Parents: Study

• Amy Norton
• June 16, 2020
• Full Page

Back off, Mom and Dad: Teens who feel their parents are overly controlling may have more difficulty with romantic relationships as adults, a new study suggests.

The study, which followed 184 teens, found that those with domineering parents had a future that was diffe...

Money Not a Good Measure of Your Self-Worth

• Steven Reinberg
• April 14, 2020
• Full Page

When the Beatles sang that "money can't buy me love," they were right, researchers say.

"When people base their self-worth on financial success, they experience feelings of pressure and a lack of autonomy, which are associated with negative social outcomes," said re...

Friends Matter for LGBT Health

• Robert Preidt
• March 11, 2020
• Full Page

Having a large social network of other people with the same sexual identity benefits the health of LGBT people, a new study finds.

Previous studies have found that discrimination and related stress can be harmful to the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgende...

Are You Lonely? Your Tweets Offer Important Clues, Experts Say

• Robert Preidt
• November 4, 2019
• Full Page

Analyzing people's tweets could reveal if they're lonely, researchers say.

Loneliness -- which has been linked with depression, heart disease, dementia and other health problems -- affects about 1 in 5 adults in the United States.

Researchers analyzed publi...

Tying the Knot Is Tied to Longer Life Span, New Data Shows

• Dennis Thompson
• October 10, 2019
• Full Page

Married folks not only live longer than singles, but the longevity gap between the two groups is growing, U.S. government health statisticians report.

The age-adjusted death rate for the married declined by 7% between 2010 and 2017, according to a new study from ...

Posting All Those Selfies Online Could Backfire, Study Finds

• Kayla McKiski
• August 29, 2019
• Full Page

Posting selfies on social media won't do you any favors in terms of likability.

A small new study finds that many people take a dim view of others who post a lot of selfies on Instagram.

Researchers at Washington State University conducted an experiment to...

Staying Optimistic Might Lengthen Your Life, Study Shows

• Alan Mozes
• August 26, 2019
• Full Page

An upbeat view of life may increase your odds for living to a ripe old age, new research suggests.

The finding stems from a look at optimism and longevity among nearly 70,000 women and 1,400 men. It builds on earlier research linking higher levels of optimism to low...

Stay Social to Help Cut Your Odds of Dementia

• Steven Reinberg
• August 5, 2019
• Full Page

The evidence continues to mount that staying socially engaged as you age helps keep dementia at bay.

In a new study, British researchers found that being socially active in your 50s and 60s may reduce the risk of developing dementia.

The findings showed tha...

The Dangers of Being a People-Pleaser

• Len Canter
• June 3, 2019
• Full Page

Being thoughtful and caring are great qualities to have, but if you go out of your way to get people to like you, you could be a people-pleaser, with unfortunate consequences for your own well-being.

If you're always saying yes to others, you're likely giving up time...

Kids With Autism 'In Tune' With Mom's Feelings: Study

• Robert Preidt
• March 28, 2019
• Full Page

Children with autism may have trouble interpreting facial emotions in strangers, but research finds some are as "in-tune" with their mother's expressions as kids without autism.

The study included 4- to 8-year-olds with and without autism who viewed five facial expre...

Hate Those Stressful Office Parties? Just Fake It, Study Suggests

• Robert Preidt
• March 18, 2019
• Full Page

Though they often dread social events, many introverts find they're not as bad as feared and some have learned to fake an outgoing personality to get through the experience.

In the business world, socializing is a key to success, said Erik Helzer, who led a team that...

Why Watch Sports? Fans Get a Self-Esteem Boost, Study Finds

• Robert Preidt
• March 12, 2019
• Full Page

When your favorite college team wins the big game, it can boost your self-esteem for days -- especially if you watch the game with others, a new study suggests.

Researchers assessed 174 students from Ohio State (OSU) and Michigan State (MSU) universities before and a...

1 in 3 Young Adults Suffers From Loneliness in U.S.

• Amy Norton
• March 11, 2019
• Full Page

For young adults, drugs and distracted driving are well-recognized health threats. Far less attention is paid to loneliness.

But loneliness is common -- and it is a particular problem for people aged 18 to 24, a new study suggests.

"We have this stereotype ...

Poor Health Compounds Loneliness in Seniors

• Robert Preidt
• March 4, 2019
• Full Page

Getting older can be a lonely business, and a new survey shows that health problems only make matters worse.

The online poll of more than 2,000 adults, aged 50 to 80, revealed that one in four said they feel isolated from other people at least some of the time, and o...

Bonding With Friends -- Without Food

• Len Canter
• January 29, 2019
• Full Page

Socializing with friends is great for physical and emotional well-being, but if all of your get-togethers are at restaurants or bars, it can be hard to stick to a healthy eating plan.

Try these ideas for having fun without placing the emphasis on food. Both you an...