Category Archives: Human Longevity

image:The ARDD Meeting 2022 will be hosted on August 29 - September 2, 2022 view more

Credit: Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Limited

May 30, 2022 -- Ian David Hickson, Ph.D., will present the latest research on the topic Chromosome instability as a driver of human disease at the world's largest annual Aging Research and Drug Discovery conference (9th ARDD). Dr. Hickson is the Director at the Center for Chromosome Stability, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, the University of Copenhagen.

Research in the Hickson laboratory has deciphered mechanisms for how genome instability can drive cancer development and has led to the development of novel therapeutic strategies to target difficult-to-treat cancers. While working in the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, he focused on the cancer predisposition disorder, Blooms syndrome, using it as a model to define the molecular basis of tumorigenesis.

After moving to the University of Copenhagen, amongst many discoveries, he identified a pathway named MiDAS, which questioned the long-held view that genome duplication can only take place in S-phase by revealing that DNA synthesis occurs in mitosis following replication stress. These findings have opened new therapeutic avenues for targeting cancer. In 2013/14, he received both an ERC Advanced Grant and a Center of Excellence grant from Danmarks Grundforskningsfond to establish the Center for Chromosome Stability (CCS). His record of achievement has been recognized by his election to prestigious learned societies, including The Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), E.M.B.O. and The Royal Society (UK).

The conference proceedings of the ARDD are commonly published in peer-reviewed journals with the talks openly available at http://www.agingpharma.org. Please review the conference proceedings for 2019, 2020 and 2021https://www.aging-us.com/article/203859/text .

Aging is emerging as a druggable condition with multiple pharmaceuticals able to alter the pace of aging in model organisms. The ARDD brings together all levels of the field to discuss the most pressing obstacles in our attempt to find efficacious interventions and molecules to target aging. The 2022 conference is the best yet with top level speakers from around the globe. Im extremely excited to be able to meet them in person at the University of Copenhagen in late summer. said Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, MD, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen.

Aging research is growing faster than ever on both academia and industry fronts. The ARDD meeting unites experts from different fields and backgrounds, sharing with us their latest groundbreaking research and developments. Our last ARDD meeting took place both offline and online, and it was a great success. I am particularly excited that being a part of the ARDD2022 meeting will provide an amazing opportunity for young scientists presenting their own work as well as meeting the experts in the field. said Daniela Bakula, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen.

Many credible biopharmaceutical companies are now prioritized aging research for early-stage discovery or therapeutic pipeline development. It is only logical to prioritize therapeutic targets that are important in both aging and age-associated diseases. The patient benefits either way. The best place to learn about these targets is ARDD, which we organize for nine years in a row. This conference is now the largest in the field and is not to be missed, said Alex Zhavoronkov, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine and Deep Longevity.

Building on the success of the ARDD conferences, the organizers developed the Longevity Medicine course series with some of the courses offered free of charge at Longevity.Degree covered in the recent Lanced Healthy Longevity paper titled Longevity medicine: upskilling the physicians of tomorrow.

About Aging Research for Drug Discovery Conference

At ARDD, leaders in the aging, longevity, and drug discovery field will describe the latest progress in the molecular, cellular and organismal basis of aging and the search for interventions. Furthermore, the meeting will include opinion leaders in AI to discuss the latest advances of this technology in the biopharmaceutical sector and how this can be applied to interventions. Notably, this year we are expanding with a workshop specifically for physicians where the leading-edge knowledge of clinical interventions for healthy longevity will be described. ARRD intends to bridge clinical, academic and commercial research and foster collaborations that will result in practical solutions to one of humanity's most challenging problems: aging. Our quest? To extend the healthy lifespan of everyone on the planet.

About Scheibye-Knudsen Lab

In the Scheibye-Knudsen lab we use in silico, in vitro and in vivo models to understand the cellular and organismal consequences of DNA damage with the aim of developing interventions. We have discovered that DNA damage leads to changes in certain metabolites and that replenishment of these molecules may alter the rate of aging in model organisms. These findings suggest that normal aging and age-associated diseases may be malleable to similar interventions. The hope is to develop interventions that will allow everyone to live healthier, happier and more productive lives.

About Deep Longevity

Deep Longevity has been acquired by Edurance RP (SEHK:0575.HK), a publicly-traded company. Deep Longevity is developing explainable artificial intelligence systems to track the rate of aging at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, system, physiological, and psychological levels. It is also developing systems for the emerging field of longevity medicine enabling physicians to make better decisions on the interventions that may slow down, or reverse the aging processes. Deep Longevity developed Longevity as a Service (LaaS) solution to integrate multiple deep biomarkers of aging dubbed "deep aging clocks" to provide a universal multifactorial measure of human biological age. Originally incubated by Insilico Medicine, Deep Longevity started its independent journey in 2020 after securing a round of funding from the most credible venture capitalists specializing in biotechnology, longevity, and artificial intelligence. ETP Ventures, Human Longevity and Performance Impact Venture Fund, BOLD Capital Partners, Longevity Vision Fund, LongeVC, co-founder of Oculus, Michael Antonov, and other expert AI and biotechnology investors supported the company. Deep Longevity established a research partnership with one of the most prominent longevity organizations, Human Longevity, Inc. to provide a range of aging clocks to the network of advanced physicians and researchers. https://longevity.ai/

About Endurance RP (SEHK:0575.HK)

Endurance RP is a diversified investment group based in Hong Kong currently holding various corporate and strategic investments focusing on the healthcare, wellness and life sciences sectors. The Group has a strong track record of investments and has returned approximately US$298 million to shareholders in the 21 years of financial reporting since its initial public offering. https://www.endurancerp.com/

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Ian David Hickson to present at the 9th Aging Research & Drug Discovery Meeting 2022 - EurekAlert

Age-related changes and illnesses have been associated with genetics, the proteome, diet and even gut bacteria. Longevity research focuses on understanding the biological processes behind how we age, with the aim ofdelaying or preventing age-related disease.

Cutting-edge research and innovation can require large monetary investment to carry projects from concept to practice. To find out more about how early-stage funding could improve longevity research, Technology Networks spoke to Garri Zmudze, executive director of the Longevity Science Foundation, a non-profit organization looking to fund a longer and healthier human lifespan by supporting longevity research.

Katie Brighton (KB): Could you highlight what the aims of the Longevity Science Foundation are?

Garri Zmudze (GZ): The mission of the Longevity Science Foundation (LSF) is to fund projects working toward a longer and healthier human lifespan. By funding research and development of medical technologies at their earliest stages, we can help extend the healthy human lifespan.

Unlike venture capital or traditional investments, there is no exchange of equity or intellectual property needed to receive funding. In other words, there are no investors putting pressure on researchers just financial support that weve gathered from global donors. Our goal is to distribute 1 billion U.S. dollars over the next 10 years in non-dilutive project funding. In March, we announced our first funding call on projects related to aging clocks and are currently reviewing submitted proposals.

We are a non-profit organization recognized in the US and Switzerland. All LSF donors receive voting rights for the foundations funding decisions. At certain contribution levels, donors can unlock perks like access to longevity events, networking opportunities, NFT drops and more.

KB: What are the main roles of early-stage funding for companies as they embark into cutting-edge research?

GZ: Genuinely cutting-edge innovation at the laboratory or research stage often requires significant funding just to get started. Finding this funding is a big challenge for researchers from smaller institutions. Foundational grants like those from the LSF can offer much-needed support for the high upfront fees associated with such research.

The longevity sector is still seen as far-fetched by parts of the science world. While more established than longevity, biotech investing is still consistently called risky by investors and venture capital firms. We provide funding for projects and research that we believe will change the future of our lives but would traditionally be passed over by other funding groups.

A key ingredient to providing the longevity space with a qualitative push is to fund early-stage research, which can support projects to the stage of being differentiable as a potential therapy or product and, thus, be eligible for venture funding. By increasing the number of such cases, you are ultimately stimulating the risk capital inflow in the industry, as well as multiplying the amount of early-stage ventures on route to their clinical validation.

Weve seen a successful instance of this with the company Insilico Medicine, which is working to develop new drugs using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Insilico Medicines founding team received pre-seed funding that allowed them to establish research trajectories and build the technology needed to achieve success. Having recently achieved unicorn status (as a privately owned startup valued at over 1 billion US dollars), Insilico Medicine now has the first-ever AI-developed drug in human trials. This is a tremendous example of how early funding can help bring ideas in the longevity space from concept to practice.

KB: What do you think the main barriers are to making the longevity research sector more accepted by researchers? Does the LSF have a plan to combat these?

GZ: We believe that the main barrier to mainstream acceptance is the lack of transparent, equity-free funding for early-stage longevity research, which is not yet eligible for venture funding, yet needs capital to define a distinguishable therapy or product to work on. By providing funding to these early-stage ventures, we empower researchers and founders to bring their projects to a point where they can publish findings, launch trials and offer treatments to the general population.

Other barriers also include general confusion about what longevity research means. There are a lot of claims from popular media sources that certain foods, diets or exercises will magically add years to ones life. While lifestyle changes can promote healthy aging, longevity is nuanced and there is no silver bullet that will allow humanity as a whole to live longer. We are trying to make longevity research more accessible by publishing content on what working with a longevity physician looks like in practice and how the definition of longevity has expanded in the past years.

KB: The foundation has announced its first funding call focused on the concept of aging clocks. Can you explain a bit more about what is meant by aging clocks? What impact might research in this area have on the overall field of longevity research?

GZ: Aging clocks refer to tools that individuals and researchers can use to measure their biological age. This can include apps, software and other devices designed specifically to track biological age based on biofeedback and other measurements.

The recent discoveries around aging biomarkers and aging clocks have significantly benefited the longevity sector, helping accelerate the development of diagnostics, treatments and more. Aging clocks are a valuable tool for researchers, as biomarkers can help determine an individuals biological age based on cells, tissues and other body systems. As the sector moves toward a more nuanced understanding of the science around aging clocks, stakeholders will be able to unlock a more comprehensive and holistic assessment of someones health. Aging clocks also facilitate means for researchers to measure the efficacy of anti-aging treatments. They provide a straightforward standard of comparison for measuring whether or not a treatment is making a difference.

KB: What other concepts or topics might the LSF be looking to fund in future?

GZ: Our primary focus areas are therapeutics, predictive diagnostics, personalized medicine and artificial intelligence. Our Visionary Board, which comprises leading longevity researchers and physicians, identified these areas as having the potential to transform longevity medicine in the near future.

We also focus on research and projects that will make a difference within the coming years, with a goal of reaching practice within five years. We believe numerous projects in the longevity space currently entering clinical trials will play an instrumental role in advancing the sector when they reach their next stage.

KB: What do you think the future looks like for the longevity research sector and where does the LSF fit into this?

GZ: I am incredibly excited about the future of the longevity research sector. We have seen tremendous interest in the longevity space in the past year that aligns with discoveries from more than two decades ago. The key turning point for the longevity field was the discovery of aging as a biological process. Since then, researchers have been conducting studies and publishing reports on what this means in practice.

Some of these findings are gaining significant traction and reaching human trial stages, which is likely why more people have recently been interested in the field. Of course, with more researchers paying attention to anti-aging, there is a higher probability of having treatments ready for human trials and market entry. The foundation will play an instrumental role in bringing these research findings out of the laboratory and into public use, helping society move closer to reliable anti-aging options.

While there may never be a definitive cure for aging as some people might desire, we believe current findings have the potential to transform what aging looks like in our lifetimes. The Longevity Science Foundation will provide the funding needed to bring us closer to anti-aging treatments and a renewed perspective on the trajectory of our lifespans.

Garri Zmudze was speaking to Katie Brighton, Scientific Copywriter for Technology Networks.

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The Impact of Funding on Longevity Research - Technology Networks

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN

(CNN) -- In molecular biologist David Sinclair's lab at Harvard Medical School, old mice are growing young again.

Using proteins that can turn an adult cell into a stem cell, Sinclair and his team have reset aging cells in mice to earlier versions of themselves. In his team's first breakthrough, published in late 2020, old mice with poor eyesight and damaged retinas could suddenly see again, with vision that at times rivaled their offspring's.

"It's a permanent reset, as far as we can tell, and we think it may be a universal process that could be applied across the body to reset our age," said Sinclair, who has spent the last 20 years studying ways to reverse the ravages of time.

"If we reverse aging, these diseases should not happen. We have the technology today to be able to go into your hundreds without worrying about getting cancer in your 70s, heart disease in your 80s and Alzheimer's in your 90s." Sinclair told an audience at Life Itself, a health and wellness event presented in partnership with CNN.

"This is the world that is coming. It's literally a question of when and for most of us, it's going to happen in our lifetimes," Sinclair told the audience.

"His research shows you can change aging to make lives younger for longer. Now he wants to change the world and make aging a disease," said Whitney Casey, an investor who is partnering with Sinclair to create a do-it-yourself biological age test.

While modern medicine addresses sickness, it doesn't address the underlying cause, "which for most diseases, is aging itself," Sinclair said. "We know that when we reverse the age of an organ like the brain in a mouse, the diseases of aging then go away. Memory comes back; there is no more dementia.

"I believe that in the future, delaying and reversing aging will be the best way to treat the diseases that plague most of us."

In Sinclair's lab, two mice sit side by side. One is the picture of youth, the other gray and feeble. Yet they are brother and sister, born from the same litter -- only one has been genetically altered to age faster.

If that could be done, Sinclair asked his team, could the reverse be accomplished as well? Japanese biomedical researcher Dr. Shinya Yamanaka had already reprogrammed human adult skin cells to behave like embryonic or pluripotent stem cells, capable of developing into any cell in the body. The 2007 discovery won the scientist a Nobel Prize, and his "induced pluripotent stem cells," soon became known as "Yamanaka factors."

However, adult cells fully switched back to stem cells via Yamanaka factors lose their identity. They forget they are blood, heart and skin cells, making them perfect for rebirth as "cell du jour," but lousy at rejuvenation. You don't want Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" to become a baby all at once; you want him to age backward while still remembering who he is.

Labs around the world jumped on the problem. A studypublished in 2016 by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, showed signs of aging could be expunged in genetically aged mice, exposed for a short time to four main Yamanaka factors, without erasingthe cells' identity.

But there was a downside in all this research: In certain situations, the altered mice developed cancerous tumors.

Looking for a safer alternative, Sinclair lab geneticist Yuancheng Lu chose three of the four factors and genetically added them to a harmless virus. The virus was designed to deliver the rejuvenating Yamanaka factors to damaged retinal ganglion cells at the back of an aged mouse's eye. After injecting the virus into the eye, the pluripotent genes were then switched on by feeding the mouse an antibiotic.

"The antibiotic is just a tool. It could be any chemical really, just a way to be sure the three genes are switched on," Sinclair said. "Normally they are only on in very young developing embryos and then turn off as we age."

Amazingly, damaged neurons in the eyes of mice injected with the three cells rejuvenated, even growing new axons, or projections from the eye into the brain. Since that original study, Sinclair said his lab has reversed aging in the muscles and brains of mice and is now working on rejuvenating a mouse's entire body.

"Somehow the cells know the body can reset itself, and they still know which genes should be on when they were young," Sinclair said. "We think we're tapping into an ancient regeneration system that some animals use -- when you cut the limb off a salamander, it regrows the limb. The tail of a fish will grow back; a finger of a mouse will grow back."

That discovery indicates there is a "backup copy" of youthfulness information stored in the body, he added.

"I call it the information theory of aging," he said. "It's a loss of information that drives aging cells to forget how to function, to forget what type of cell they are. And now we can tap into a reset switch that restores the cell's ability to read the genome correctly again, as if it was young."

While the changes have lasted for months in mice, renewed cells don't freeze in time and never age (like, say, vampires or superheroes), Sinclair said. "It's as permanent as aging is. It's a reset, and then we see the mice age out again, so then we just repeat the process.

"We believe we have found the master control switch, a way to rewind the clock," he added. "The body will then wake up, remember how to behave, remember how to regenerate and will be young again, even if you're already old and have an illness."

Studies on whether the genetic intervention that revitalized mice will do the same for people are in early stages, Sinclair said. It will be years before human trials are finished, analyzed and, if safe and successful, scaled to the mass needed for a federal stamp of approval.

While we wait for science to determine if we too can reset our genes, there are many other ways to slow the aging process and reset our biological clocks, Sinclair said.

"The top tips are simply: Focus on plants for food, eat less often, get sufficient sleep, lose your breath for 10 minutes three times a week by exercising to maintain your muscle mass, don't sweat the small stuff and have a good social group," Sinclair said.

All these behaviors affect our epigenome, proteins and chemicals that sit like freckles on each gene, waiting to tell the gene "what to do, where to do it, and when to do it," according to the National Human Genome Research Institute. The epigenome literally turns genes on and off.

What controls the epigenome? Human behavior and one's environment play a key role. Let's say you were born with a genetic predisposition for heart disease and diabetes. But because you exercised, ate a plant-focused diet, slept well and managed your stress during most of your life, it's possible those genes would never be activated. That, experts say, is how we can take some of our genetic fate into our own hands.

The positive impact on our health from eating a plant-based diet, having close, loving relationships and getting adequate exercise and sleep are well documented. Calorie restriction, however, is a more controversial way of adding years to life, experts say.

Cutting back on food -- without inducing malnutrition -- has been a scientifically known way to lengthen life for nearly a century. Studies on worms, crabs, snails, fruit flies and rodents have found restricting calories "delay the onset of age-related disorders" such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, according to the National Institute on Aging. Some studies have also found extensions in life span: In a 1986 study, mice fed only a third of a typical day's calories lived to 53 months -- a mouse kept as a pet may live to about 24 months.

Studies in people, however, have been less enlightening, partly because many have focused on weight loss instead of longevity. For Sinclair, however, cutting back on meals was a significant factor in resetting his personal clock: Recent tests show he has a biological age of 42 in a body born 53 years ago.

"I've been doing a biological test for 10 years now, and I've been getting steadily younger for the last decade," Sinclair said. "The biggest change in my biological clock occurred when I ate less often -- I only eat one meal a day now.That made the biggest difference to my biochemistry."

Sinclair incorporates other tools into his life, based on research from his lab and others. In his book "Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don't Have To," he writes that little of what he does has undergone the sort of "rigorous long-term clinical testing" needed to have a "complete understanding of the wide range of potential outcomes." In fact, he added, "I have no idea if this is even the right thing for me to be doing."

With that caveat, Sinclair is willing to share his tips: He keeps his starches and sugars to a minimum and gave up desserts at age 40 (although he does admit to stealing a taste on occasion). He eats a good amount of plants, avoids eating other mammals and keeps his body weight at the low end of optimal.

He exercises by taking a lot of steps each day, walks upstairs instead of taking an elevator and visits the gym with his son to lift weights and jog before taking a sauna and a dip in an ice-cold pool. "I've got my 20-year-old body back," he said with a smile.

Speaking of cold, science has long thought lower temperatures increased longevity in many species, but whether it is true or not may come down to one's genome, according to a 2018 study. Regardless, it appears cold can increase brown fat in humans, which is the type of fat bears use to stay warm during hibernation. Brown fat has been shown to improve metabolism and combat obesity.

Sinclair takes vitamins D and K2 and baby aspirin daily, along with supplements that have shown promise in extending longevity in yeast, mice and human cells in test tubes.

One supplement he takes after discovering its benefits is 1 gram of resveratrol, the antioxidant-like substance found in the skin of grapes, blueberries, raspberries, mulberries and peanuts.

He also takes 1 gram of metformin, a staple in the arsenal of drugs used to lower blood sugars in people with diabetes. He added it after studies showed it might reduce inflammation, oxidative damage and cellular senescence, in which cells are damaged but refuse to die, remaining in the body as a type of malfunctioning "zombie cell."

However, some scientists quibble about the use of metformin, pointing to rare cases of lactic acid buildup and a lack of knowledge on how it functions in the body.

Sinclair also takes 1 gram of NMN, or nicotinamide mononucleotide, which in the body turns into NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. A coenzyme that exists in all living cells, NAD+ plays a central role in the body's biological processes, such as regulating cellular energy, increasing insulin sensitivity and reversing mitochondrial dysfunction.

When the body ages, NAD+ levels significantly decrease, dropping by middle age to about half the levels of youth, contributing to age-related metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Numerous studies have shown restoring NAD+ levels safely improves overall health and increases life span in yeast, mice and dogs. Clinical trials testing the molecule in humans have been underway for three years, Sinclair said.

"These supplements, and the lifestyle that I am doing, is designed to turn on our defenses against aging," he said. "Now, if you do that, you don't necessarily turn back the clock. These are just things that slow down epigenetic damage and these other horrible hallmarks of aging.

"But the real advance, in my view, was the ability to just tell the body, 'Forget all that. Just be young again,' by just flipping a switch. Now I'm not saying that we're going to all be 20 years old again," Sinclair said.

"But I'm optimistic that we can duplicate this very fundamental process that exists in everything from a bat to a sheep to a whale to a human. We've done it in a mouse. There's no reason I can think of why it shouldn't work in a person, too."

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The 'Benjamin Button' effect: Scientists can reverse aging in mice; the goal is to do the same for humans - WDJT

Healthy food groups. Protein

What you eat can have a big impact on how healthy you are and how long you live, and for decades, researchers have been studying the impact of our food choices on these variables.

One diet in particular, the "longevity diet", has become well known as the key to extending the human lifespan.

According to a new review that combed through a range of studies, there's no single special longevity diet that you should follow. Instead, you should focus on a set of fundamental principles associated with a healthier life and extended lifespan.

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Want to live a long, healthy life? Eat more nuts, whole grains, and legumes and less red meat | Health24 - News24

Feeling anxious isnt a good feeling, and most of us will do anything to avoid it. Unfortunately, anxiety is undoubtedly a part of the day to day human existence and all of us are forced to deal with it at one time or another. Every single day, our bodies pick up on a wide variety of signals and triggers throughout the day. Most of them, we dont even notice, but over time they build up and can have a profound impact on your mental health, increasing anxiety substantially.

According to the WHO, worldwide anxiety and depression increased by 25% because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At work, anxiety and depression can manifest as not just stress but fear. This has been multiplied by pandemic-induced situations over which we have little to no control. Ever-present anxiety can lead to burnout, depression disorders, and panic attacks. By understanding whats causing your fear can help you come up with potential solutions and discern what influence you may have to effect change

Though experiencing occasional anxiety is a part of the human experience, intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear are signs of an anxiety disorder and should not be ignored. Often, people who struggle with anxiety disorders will experience sudden, intense, and unmanageable feelings of fear or even terror.

Stress buildup, trauma, consistent stress, other mental health disorders, drugs, and alcohol can all trigger feelings of anxiety. The result is an inability to live a normal life as the fight or flight response which is usually only triggered by severe threats is consistently triggered by normal experiences.

Perhaps most bizarrely, everything we do on a daily basis has an impact on our anxiety levels. When you think of what might be causing you to feel anxious, you likely dont consider relatively simple things like how you sit. But as it turns out, relatively minor parts of your day might just be causing you unnecessary anxiety.

We know that the mind can influence the body, but it turns out that its also true that the body can influence the mind. According to manual therapist and movement coach Aaron Alexander, if youre in one position for the duration of the day, it becomes your personality. It literally affects your mood and even impacts your attitude over time.

According to a 2017 study, 86% of college students had an easier time accessing uplifting memories in an upright position. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the opposite was also true. In the slumped position, it is much easier to access depressive memories.

When your shoulders are slumped, it is a physical example of depression. The body is physically pulled downwards towards the ground. If thats how you live your day-to-day life, it sends incredibly negative messages to your brain. Alexander explains that this is an example of postural feedback.

Alexander advises that you visualize how you want your body to feel. And pay attention to how your body is currently feeling. Pay attention to the stiffness and discomfort present within muscles and focus on how you want them to feel instead. Once you have defined how you want your body to feel, youll be able to reverse the negative pattern and, ultimately, get closer to your goal.

No, you didnt misread that, you should listen to the sounds of a crackling fire. Most of us will automatically feel a sense of calm wash over us when we hear the sound of a crackling fire. We naturally associate the noise with feelings of warmth and, evolutionarily speaking, safety.

Historically, being near a warm, crackling fire has been an indicator to the autonomic nervous system that youre safe because it keeps potentially dangerous predators away.

A 2014 study of 226 participants found that the sound of a crackling fire could even go as far as to induce relaxation and lower blood pressure. And you dont have to rush out and find a fireplace to buy.

Alexander says that virtual fires work just as well. Even using YouTube or your TV in place of real fire can do the trick. The study in 2014 made use of virtual fires and clearly, the results were just as positive.

This too might sound bizarre, but rest assured, its a real thing. Much like a slumped posture can affect the mood, constantly looking down can have the same effect. If you think about it, the ocular system is just an extension of the central nervous system.

Looking down all the time can result in tunnel vision, which causes adrenaline levels to spike and the pupils to dilate. This, of course, is designed to allow for more light into the eye, so you can assess the threat. On the other hand, looking down can also trigger a feeling of overwhelming sleepiness.

But looking up is the exact opposite. Its essentially a supercharger for the senses. Looking up and widening your focus kick starts the body. This triggers the brain and body to wake up and is known to be hugely beneficial for increasing creativity. So, looking up and looking around could also really help if youre struggling with a slump in creativity.

One person whos dealt with their own anxieties is pop powerhouse Pink. In fact,she used to experiencedebilitating panic attacks. As a result, Pink is now using her voice to raise awareness about panic disorders.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-hack-your-nervous-system-from-manual-therapist

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321348063_How_Posture_Affects_Memory_Recall_and_Mood

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4690962/

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Struggling With Anxiety? Here's How To Manage It - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

Were going to be obsolete. Were going to have to find another occupation, breast surgeon Dr Felicia Tan told her husband, a liver surgeon, after returning from a conference at which medical oncologists presented data on the latest cancer treatments some years ago.

They were showing scan results and pathology results of breast cancer patients achieving close to 100 per cent remission just from taking drugs alone. This means that the role of surgery as the cornerstone of cancer treatment will soon be obsolete, the director of group surgical practice FeM Surgery recounted during Life Beyond 120, IPG Howdens future-ready round-table series on healthcare.

Not only has medical science and technology advanced rapidly, researchers are also trying to figure out how long we can live if by a combination of genetics, medical intervention, or luck, we dont succumb to illness or injury.

According to the United Nations, there will be over 25 million centenarians worldwide by 2100. The oldest verified supercentenarian was French woman Jeanne Calment, who died at the age of 122 years and 164 days in 1997. Research published last year in Nature Communications suggests the maximum lifespan is between 120 and 150 years, after which the body experiences a complete loss of resilience.

If we dont destroy the environment, which in turn affects our health, and if we work together on improving living conditions in general, there is a real possibility of the average life expectancy trending towards 120, added Dr Daniel Tan, medical director of Asian Alliance Radiation & Oncology (AARO). Especially if key breakthroughs are achieved in the top killers like heart disease and cancer, as well as advances in gene therapy, which may slow down the ageing process in humans.

New developments in the treatment of dementia, a life-limiting condition that affects one in 10 persons aged 60 and above, also has Dr Andrew Tan, hopeful. The nuclear medicine consultant at Farrer Park Hospital with a subspecialty in neurodegenerative disorders shared, For the longest time, the only drugs available were used to treat the symptoms related to dementia, but recently a new antibody drug that actually targetted the suspected cause of dementia (Alzheimers) was released.

In Singapore, 152,000 people are projected to live with dementia by 2030, according to Ministry of Health data.

Encouragingly, a variety of pharmaceutical agents are undergoing trials intended to stop and perhaps reverse dementia. The good news for dementia patients and their caregivers is that immense resources and funding are being poured into research by pharmaceutical companies and research labs, and a potential breakthrough is probably coming, Dr Tan added.

Even if not everyone aspires to live to the supercentenarian age, mans desire for immortality is as old as humanity itself. Chinas first emperor Qin Shi Huang (reigned 221210 BCE), sought a potion to give him eternal life, but died of mercury poisoning instead.

Societys preoccupation with issues of ageing persists, not least in the visible signs of growing older.

I think weve come to expect a certain quality of life, and part of living well is looking good, shared Dr Karen Soh, medical director of aesthetics practice Priv Clinic and a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

Nobody wants to look in the mirror and see a reflection that is older than they feel. So they might come in for treatment to look fresher. Theyre doing it for themselves; its not an obsession with youth. The goal for most of our patients has shifted from wanting to look younger to wanting to look good for their age.

The desire to take charge of ones vitality, in tandem with growing public awareness of genetic disorders, fuelled the global demand for direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits to the tune of more than $1.9 billion in 2021.

Do you want to know if you are at risk of breast cancer or Alzheimers disease, or do you want some insight into your microbiome, which influences your health and can be passed from parent to child? Test kits are available to the public should they wish to test, discover and act on the results, but doctors warn that the results are not conclusive and are of limited value.

Retail genetic tests usually flag increased risks for certain diseases but cannot replace clinical tests and assessments, affirmed Dr Rosemary Tan, CEO of Veredus Laboratories and a 2017 The Peak Power List honouree.

Being alive is just breathing. Living is experiencing all sorts of joys and sadness that life brings, being productive, and contributing to the happiness of others. One needs to have a baseline amount of wealth to be able to live.

People who are more health-conscious are usually the early adopters looking out for potential health issues that may crop up. Whether they act on the information and make changes to lead longer and better lives will require long-term studies, she added.

Founded in 2003, Veredus Laboratories develops molecular tests for the detection of pathogens in disease and bio-surveillance on biological threats. The firm also developed PCR test kits used widely at Singapores international checkpoints during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The former executive officer to the Director-General of the WHO and infectious diseases physician Dr Adrian Ong also observed that recent pandemics such as Covid-19, Mers, Avian Flu, Zika, and Sars have highlighted both our vulnerability and the paramount importance of public health. The spectre of new microbial epidemics will always haunt us it is the long dance between humans and nature. Yet it is with some of the same medical tools that saved the day during Covid-19 that human life expectancy will be extended, he said.

A significant increase in life expectancy would, however, fundamentally change social constructs and the ways countries and individuals optimise resources to meet the needs of current and future generations.

Living beyond 120 will demand a rethink of many aspects of society, including family structures, parity and social capital. We may in the future find ourselves living in a four- or even five-generation household a simply mind-boggling concept. We will need a new narrative on the social, economic, and value implications of such a generational household, Dr Ong shared.

Dr Daniel Tan, who founded AARO following his familys battle with cancer, emphasised the need for advanced yet holistic medical care to maintain a longer life expectancy. Life Beyond 120 relates to this in that currently one in three people will develop cancer in their lifetime, so its just as important to minimise the side effects of treatment and help rejuvenate a patients mind and body post-cancer treatment, so they can lead healthy and productive lives.

Dr Felicia Tan, whose FeM Surgery dedicates 20 per cent of company time and resources to overseas medical missions, brought the discussion back to a more personal level. Quality of life (QOL) is key. My health, wealth and social QOL needs to be maintained through my centennial years if I am going to live beyond 120, she shared. Being alive is just breathing, heart pumping. Living is experiencing all sorts of joys and sadness that life brings, being productive, and contributing to the happiness of others. One needs to have a baseline amount of wealth to be able to live.

The sentiment was shared by Dr Rosemary Tan: Most important to me is not how long I live but how I live those years. If I am able to eat, enjoy life, sleep well, contribute to society, mentor the next generation, and watch them blossom, I will continue to do it even at 120. Fundamentally, it is about the fulfilment I get from my work and loved ones, as well as the quality of life I possess.

While having longer life expectancy may seem desirable, one may need to consider the downside and risks associated with longevity, such as outliving ones savings and managing rising healthcare-related costs during the golden years.

IPG Howden can address these concerns by providing individuals and families with liquidity using globally-sourced insurance solutions to help them achieve their legacy planning goalsand peace of mind.

To find out more, visit http://www.ipghowden.com.

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Life beyond 120: Doctors weigh in on leading healthier, longer lives - The Peak Singapore

Emotions are an influential and integral part of our well-being. Being the driving force in our everyday lives, they shape our ways of thinking, behaviors, and overall qualities and influence how we relate and socialize with others. Since they are innate by nature, they are tough to break free from most of the time.

Emotions can be complex because it can be challenging to understand why they arise. Though many individuals look at the situation they are experiencing in the present moment to determine why they react emotionally, several other factors can impact your emotions. Emotion can result from internal and external factors, and the mind tends to use them as a defense mechanism to protect you from other uncomfortable feelings.

Do Emotions Impact Our Health?

Absolutely. Its called powerful for a reason, and negative emotions are hazardous since they have been directly linked to numerous health-related problems.

Being in frequent emotional turmoil can lead to stress, and we all know it is never good for the body. The elevated cortisol levels, adrenaline pumping through our veins, are referred to as stress hormones, and when they course through our bodies, theyre pumping us up to react in a way that is quick and strong.

That burst of adrenaline can lead to incredible feats of superhuman strength, and we find ourselves doing things we ordinarily wouldnt be able to. In some ways, having a short burst of adrenaline and stress hormones can be a good thing. Still, once these stress triggers start to diminish and shut down, theres a good chance that the release of other chemicals needed to support some of our essential bodily functioning gets shut down too.

Our bodies are incredible, but theres only so much they can handle at any given time; case in point, it can take only one impact at a time. In other words, our bodies can accept only one of two modes at any given time. So were either in the fight or flight response mode or the healing and growth modeone of the other.

Stress can significantly negatively impact our bodies, both physically and emotionally. On a physical level, certain emotions can leave an impact that includes side effects like weight gain, insomnia, chronic fatigue, and muscular aches. On an emotional level, feeling negative emotions and stress can result in feeling depressed and worthless, irritability, loss of purpose in life, and loneliness. We start to feel isolatedlike nobody understands what were going throughwe become withdrawn, feel a sense of loneliness, and eventually, start to feel depressed because of all the imagined worries we are carrying about on our shoulders.

Yet, many people tend to brush it off and not think twice about the connection between these symptoms and emotions, not realizing how this behavior pattern and way of thinking is having damaging effects on their health.

What about Our Minds and Bodies? Do Emotions Influence Them Too?

Chronic illnesses like depression have been linked to poor mental health, which is often directly related to poor regulation of emotions.

Experiencing these unhealthy emotions over a long period leads to chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, and even a stroke, according to a 2013 article published in the Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders.

Another study found that people had a 41% chance of depression and diabetes, so yes, it is safe to say emotions can have a rather significant impact on our health without the proper regulation and management techniques. A 2017 study even revealed the possible link between depression and its effect on our immune system and that habits that were associated with depression including a lack of sleep and physical activity could potentially increase your chances of contracting more illnesses.

There is also the link between longevity and depression, which according to a 2014 review associated several mental health conditions with higher mortality rates. Another 2017 study suggested that those who dealt with depression may risk shorter lifespans, ranging anywhere from 7 years to 18 years more concise than the average human lifespan.

It cannot be denied that living in a state of constant emotional stress is eventually going to take its toll, and your health will be the one that ends up paying the price.

Negative Thinking

Negative thinking is often a product of insecurity. However, it can result from other complex factors, such as illness, substance abuse, personality problems, and life experiences. Negativity, like many things in life, can gradually become a habit. Constant criticism, subconscious negative thoughts, and denial can condition the brain to embrace sadness. When these negative tendencies control the more significant part of our thought processes, the brain is forced to distort the truth. This psychological change makes breaking the negative thought cycle even more difficult.

How Does Negativity Affect the Body?

Negative thinking or negative emotions are the bodys natural response to threats, disasters, or heartache. In response to a perceived threat or stress, the human body is conditioned to deal with such situations by releasing cortisol into the bloodstream. The release of cortisol made you more alert and focused. However, high levels over a long period will often lead to severe health issues, such as poor digestion, while, at the same time, decreasing the immune systems ability to fight inflammation. Most health experts claim that negative people are ten times more likely to become sick than optimistic people.

Below are some of the harmful medical conditions associated with negative thinkers:

Overcoming Negativity

Our emotions create a pathway in our brains. Just as a negative thinking process develops over time, we can also reinforce positive self-talk and make positive thinking a habit. As I told my friend, Happiness and positivity are a product of choice and not circumstance. To overcome negative emotions, please follow the steps below:

Recognize what is real.

The world isnt perfect, so there would never be a time when everything around you would be ideal. Therefore, to change your thinking patterns, you must learn to recognize what is real and embrace that everything cant be perfect. This understanding will help you appreciate positivity in the face of negativity.

Live in the moment.

Its challenging to stop being negative if you dont let go of past mistakes or fear the future. You have to learn to counter every negative thought with a positive response. Thats the only way to take control of your mind and thought processes.

Be positive.

Try to become optimistic about every situation. Regardless of bad news or events, try to be grateful for the little things that went right. When thinking positively, you leave little room for negative thoughts. Instead, cultivate positive habits such as spending time with loved ones or engaging in a group conversation. These habits will limit your reflection on negative things.

Channel your negativity into solutions.

To be realistic, its humanly impossible not to experience negative or unproductive thoughts, and we all have them occasionally. However, instead of whining and complaining, negative thoughts should challenge positive thinkers to develop a solution. For example, suppose a positive thinker realizes they are gaining more weight over the holiday instead of complaining about the governments failure to make legislation that promotes healthy eating food. In that case, he could use that negativity/weight gain as fuel to start working out and living a healthier lifestyle.

Spend more time with positive people.

When you spend a lot of time with a sadist, you may gradually become one. The same principle works when you spend time with an optimist. Negativity and optimism are both equally contagious. Therefore, spending quality time with optimistic people will help significantly overcome negativity.

It is humanly impossible to eradicate negative thinking, but it can be reduced, and its psychological effect on us can be made irrelevant using the steps discussed above.

How To Quickly Reduce Emotional Stress

Everybody feels worried at some point. Sometimes, you may even feel more significant emotional stress than youre used to. Emotional stress tends to disturb your natural equilibrium or any circumstance that will, in general, upset the harmony between a living thing and its environment. What separates our level of stress tolerance is the degree to which stress influences your daily life and the strategies you adopt to deal with it. Generally speaking, its almost impossible to avoid emotional tension or stress situations, but we can learn to manage them to prevent damaging our health and robbing us of our happiness. The stress management strategies listed below will help you cope with frequent amounts of emotional stress. These may include:

Find a hobby that helps you unwind.

Everybody needs personal time to unwind and blow off the steam of emotional stress. For example, your hobby might be exercising, or listening to music, or simply walking your pet. Do whatever you make happy to ease those stressful moments. Dont downplay the importance of how unwinding can reduce your emotional stress levels.

Avoid foods that trigger emotional stress.

Sensitive food, such as sugar, gluten, milk products, or processed food, can influence mood. This class of food contains some components that can significantly impact your mood. For example, sugar and glucose can make you feel either full of energy or left with a sugar crash. Avoid these foods and consume more natural whole foods to stay healthy.

Get consistent sleep.

When youre sleep deprived or when your sleeping quality is poor, you are vulnerable to higher levels of emotional stress. Thats bad for your health. So regardless of how busy your schedule may be, make sure you get at least six hours of uninterrupted sleep daily. Getting a good nights rest is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your emotional well-being.

Take control of the situation.

Individuals who remain in charge of their circumstances are less worried or emotionally stressed than those who are not in control. Taking control of a situation means doing all you can to improve your mental and physical health to stop worrying about what you cant control.

Write them down.

Stressing over your circumstances can only intensify your emotional stress. Writing down how youre feeling can help release those negative emotions. Being expressive with our senses is an effective way of reducing anxiety.

Make use of anxiety-easing tools.

Use tools that can help you ease the stress you are feeling. Tools, such as popular apps on our smartphones, can help. There are a lot of apps you can download to help you ease your tension. You just need to find out which one will be the most effective for you and then download it. Many of these apps are free, so research a few of them and determine whether they will work for you.

Make use of stress-management strategies.

Stress-management strategies, such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and changing your thinking processes are effective strategies that can help you manage your emotional stress. Although these strategies dont work like rocket science, they take time and practice before they begin to have a severe impact on your stress level. Therefore, you have to stay committed and put in the necessary work before seeing changes in your general well-being.

The tips or steps above are not meant to replace the advice of your physician. If you are struggling with emotional stress, its advisable to seek medication, therapy, or consult your physician. Also, talk to a therapist; they can help you reduce your emotional stress by talking you through your emotional baggage.

Read this article:
The Link Between Our Emotions And Mental Health - Thrive Global

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Paints And Coatings Global Market Report 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global paints and coatings market is expected to grow from $211.9 billion in 2021 to $230.22 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. The market is expected to grow to $311.47 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 7.8%.

Asia Pacific was the largest region in the paints and coatings market in 2021. Western Europe was the second-largest region in the paints and coatings market. The regions covered in the paints and coatings report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa.

There is a rapid growth in the consumption of paints and coatings in many industries. Paints and coatings are widely used in the automotive, construction, and manufacturing industries. For instance, the global buildings construction market is expected to increase from $6.6 trillion in 2019 to $8.4 trillion in 2022. Similarly, the global transportation manufacturing market is expected to increase from $6 trillion in 2019 to $7.8 trillion in 2022. Decorative paints and coatings are widely used in buildings and construction whereas protective paints and coatings are linked closely to the automotive, major appliance, and industrial equipment industries. Therefore, growth in end-user industries is expected to drive the paints and coatings market during the forecast period.

Biocides are being used in paints to enhance their longevity and to maintain their quality. Biocide additives have been designed to protect paints from getting damaged during storage or to keep fungi and algae from growing on the applied paints. The market for biocides in paints will continue to grow due to the switch from solvent-based to water-based paints as they are not hazardous for human health and the environment, and minimize fungally and algae growth. However, the replacement of traditional biocides based on chlorine and formaldehyde with environmentally friendly biocides adds to the costs of paint production. For instance, some of the major companies using biocide in paint manufacturing include The Dow Chemical Company, Troy Corporation, BASF SE, Thor Group, and AkzoNobel N.V.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider paints and coatings market, and compares it with other markets.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Report Structure

3. Paints And Coatings Market Characteristics

4. Paints And Coatings Market Product Analysis

4.1. Leading Products/ Services

4.2. Key Features and Differentiators

4.3. Development Products

5. Paints And Coatings Market Supply Chain

5.1. Supply Chain

5.2. Distribution

5.3. End Customers

6. Paints And Coatings Market Customer Information

6.1. Customer Preferences

6.2. End Use Market Size and Growth

7. Paints And Coatings Market Trends And Strategies

8. Impact Of COVID-19 On Paints And Coatings

9. Paints And Coatings Market Size And Growth

9.1. Market Size

9.2. Historic Market Growth, Value ($ Billion)

9.3. Forecast Market Growth, Value ($ Billion)

10. Paints And Coatings Market Regional Analysis

10.1. Global Paints And Coatings Market, 2021, By Region, Value ($ Billion)

10.2. Global Paints And Coatings Market, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Historic And Forecast, By Region

10.3. Global Paints And Coatings Market, Growth And Market Share Comparison, By Region

11. Paints And Coatings Market Segmentation

11.1. Global Paints And Coatings Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

11.2. Global Paints And Coatings Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

11.3. Global Paints And Coatings Market, Segmentation By Type of Resin, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

11.4. Global Paints And Coatings Market, Segmentation By Performance Range, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

12. Paints And Coatings Market Metrics

12.1. Paints And Coatings Market Size, Percentage Of GDP, 2016-2026, Global

12.2. Per Capita Average Paints And Coatings Market Expenditure, 2016-2026, Global

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/srq7ko

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Original post:
Global Paints and Coatings Market Report 2022: Profiles of Key Players The Dow Chemical Company, Troy Corporation, BASF, Thor Group and AkzoNobel -...

Over the past two years, many people have realized the importance of wellness. The demand for psychiatric services has increased. In 2021 alone, the American Psychological Association reported that over 84% of psychologists treating anxiety disorders have seen an increase in the demand for their services.

The good news is that the wellness industry has produced new tools. They have also produced methods to help vulnerable individuals cope with stressful situations. Many of these focus on improving mental and physical wellness among active adults and the elderly.

As economic and social uncertainty still lingers, its important to learn about the latest wellness tech. We also need to consider how it can improve our lives and our reaction to drastic changes. Lets look at a few of these developments as they emerge.

Artificial intelligence is getting smarter as it continues to penetrate the wellness market. AI personal trainers have been around for some time, but they are now being used to help people understand their true emotional state. Recently, this application has made breakthroughs in diagnosing clinical depression and stress.

For instance, Opsis Emotion AI an emotion analysis software developed by a Singaporean company is used in a pilot program for diagnosing the mental health conditions of over 4,300 Singaporean seniors.

The technology uses a facial recognition system that uses algorithms to analyze subtle changes in facial features. With this, the technology enables caregivers to detect the earliest symptoms of depression and identify warning signs that point toward suicidal tendencies. The program is a partnership between Opsis and the public sector. Once successful, the program can provide people with an effective method for observing self-care.

Designed as fitness aids, smartwatches also analyze emotional wellness. Many of the products on the market now come with sensors for tracking sleep patterns and monitoring signs of severe stress. The sensors gather information on the wearers heart rate, blood pressure, and sweat. This biofeedback data is also an indicator of stress levels. This allows the wearer to make adjustments to their lifestyle or seek medical attention.

Smartwatches can be effective tools for practicing self-care. Once worn, they can monitor an individuals overall condition and notify them about subtle cardiovascular changes that could lead to stroke or a heart attack. In an article published on the Harvard Medical School website, a smartwatch with a built-in ECG sensor is reported to be up to 95% accurate at detecting the earliest signs of heart problems.

There is still more room for smartwatch technology to evolve. However, the use of wearable gadgets can provide people with insights on how to better take care of themselves. It can also encourage them to adopt appropriate wellness activities, and discontinue destructive habits.

For centuries, humans have been fixated on the presence of energies that provide insights into unique personalities. New technology is making this approach easier. With the use of aural cameras, wellness centers and trainers can run real-time simulations of energy centers and offer complete insights on all metrics that play a role in achieving optimal wellness.

This technology brings exciting opportunities not just for spas and meditation studios, but it can also provide information on a persons psychological state. While they have yet to be used in clinical settings, the continued enhancement of aura cameras offers mental health centers an accurate tool for delivering effective psychiatric interventions before a condition worsens.

Social distancing measures have forced many people to set up fitness studios or gyms at home. This trend continues as the number of employees who opted to work from home permanently is expected to rise. According to Forbes, about 25% of all professional jobs will shift to a permanent remote work set up by the end of this year.

With this significant shift in work culture, employees who are about to transition to this new reality will find it convenient to bring the gym to their living rooms. This will also increase the demand for smart fitness equipment. Everything from treadmills to rowing machines now features HD monitors that allow for a more personalized workout experience. By investing in these facilities, they can keep fit without having to leave home.

One important development over the past two years is the use of telemedicine. This approach has enabled doctors to provide diagnostic services and arrange consultations with vulnerable patients. With the convenience and safety they bring, offering telemedicine services has become a standard among clinics and practitioners.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported a 63-fold increase in the use of telehealth. This comes as patients seek more flexible interactions with their healthcare providers. Due to the potential successes of using these methods to deliver quality care, Congress has introduced changes in video conferencing requirements. This is to enable a wider acceptance of telemedicine services now that the healthcare center embraces the internet of things.

Theres a lot more we should be looking forward to as the wellness sector harnesses new technology. With these developments so far, we can become more hands-on when it comes to securing our physical and mental well-being.

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Five Wellness tools that can help vulnerable individuals cope with stress. - Longevity LIVE

Covid-19 has certainly forced us to reassess how we live and work and to mitigate similar disruptions in the future, well need to rapidly adapt to a new way with borrowed wisdom from the past,which brings us to an important question - after the pandemic, what spatial changes in workspaces can aid human interaction? Given that we clock up nearly two-thirds of a day at work, the design of workspaces should fundamentally address concerns of adequatelightingand ventilation, prerequisites for employee well-being.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, SidharthaTalwar, Principal at Studio Lotus, opined, Before conventional air-conditioning became popular in India, buildings were designed to optimise cross-ventilation and penetration of daylight through simple design mechanisms such as operable windows, shallow floor plates, and jaalis. In light of the pandemic, we need to return to this model to ensure improved natural air exchange in conjunction with the pumping of fresh air through the interiors to lower the possibility of virus spread. Additionally, the incorporation of skylights and clerestory windows and controlled ventilation using louvers can also help reduce the buildings energy requirements."

He added, Predicating the design of spaces on employees' health and well-being through courtyards, day-lit spill-outs and breakout zones such as terraces will negate the need for retrofitting, while also providing opportunities for human interaction. Functionally, the 21st-century office can be purpose-built to suit the specific requirements of an organization. It must also encourage social interactionthrough spill-outs, common areas, and breakout zonesto create and foster a sense of community and belonging among the workforce.How an office is structured and operated can have a direct consequence on organisational culture. It is crucial for designers to interpret a companys structure, ethos, and culture it seeks to nurture in order that the workplace is representative of those values. In the information age, rigid planning predicated on workplace hierarchies and obsolete social structures need to give way to layouts promoting agility and flexibility for better collaboration and cross-learning. The workplace of the future needs to evolve continuouslyto attract and retain employees and accommodate their aspirations and be resilient to shocks similar to the one we are witnessing today.

Asserting that health and safety are very important in design, Akshat Bhatt, Principal Architectat Architecture Discipline, shared, There is a need to design our workspaces for longevity, and a part of that entails prioritizing health. Post the pandemic, workplaces have begun to place a larger importance on employee well-being. This can be done in multiple ways. Well-lit, well-serviced spaces with access to pleasant vistas help users think clearly and work efficiently. Open, landscaped spill-out spaces can serve as a great way to aid interaction while also bringing in a sense of calmness and relief in a workspace.

Office buildings are one of the most crucial spaces that affect our physical and psychological wellness since a person spends most of their time in their work environment even when post-pandemic, people have adapted to more flexible work styles in various ways and there is more flexibility in terms of working hours with people embracing work from home on a regular basis. So, the idea of a fixed workspace for each employee is slowly transforming into flexible seating, wherein it is a plug and play kind of a system; anybody can sit on any seat and perform their work and people are not restricted to their particular workstation.

Though work has become more collaborative in the present time Mitu Mathur, Director, GPM Architects and Planners, feels that at the same time, professionals are all virtually connected so, design a lot of small cubicles where people can hold meetings on different media platforms instead of having a physical meeting of 5-6 people together in a conference room. She said, An understanding of the human mindset post-pandemic is necessary to create healthy and cohesive spaces that can induce productivity, collaboration and creativity. Spaces that help people network while offering them the required space for social distancing are the need of the hour.

She revealed, Large-scale corporate office complexes with column-free spaces offer us a chance to introduce flexibility into the design. We must also design workspaces to provide more area per person, but it does not have to be in a cubicle format. The configurations can vary pinwheel pattern, curvilinear pattern, etc. to avoid face to face interactions. An efficient design of structural grid and functional modules of built forms allow for an open floor plan that can be freely transformed as per need. Designing a modular and standardised structure creates the provision for further extension. Using light-weight and movable partitions, instead of fixed cubicles, that can be easily reconfigured can facilitate easy change of layout in the future.

Encouraging to introduce greens in workspaces as they can aid human health and wellness, Mitu Mathur said, For instance, to get the desired indoor air quality and a bacteria-free environment, office spaces today incorporate indoor plants and moss walls and utilise refuge areas as green spaces. Today, with the constantly changing future needs, there is anticipation of how building spaces will be designed. With innovations and increasing levels of comfort, transformation in living and working has become very common. Hence, buildings should be designed to adapt, evolve and change with time. Architects have to account for the future of workspaces, and all aspects of adaptability and flexibility have to be imbibed within the design philosophy.

Dakshayani Sheth, Regional Head Edifice Consultants at Pune, advised, By creating design that is on-the-go, flexible and works with the needs of the users, we can help people connect their old and the new worlds seamlessly. Keeping it flexible for multiple outcomes, programming spaces formultipleuses, keeping them easily reconfigurable, scalable and sustainable. These are some of the larger approaches we are adopting in the workspace design. While the world waits for natural immunity to kick in or vaccines to boost it, the responsibility falls on us, designers of physical spaces, to facilitate human interaction with minimal risks and maximum engagement.We must reassure them without compromise, distance them without isolation and protect without seclusion.

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Workspace interior decor tips: Spatial changes that can aid human interaction - Hindustan Times