All articles tagged with #mortality risk
A 30-year study of about 147,000 adults found that combining resistance training with aerobic exercise yielded the lowest all-cause mortality risk, with the strongest benefits when individuals did about 90–120 minutes of strength work weekly plus regular cardio. Two strength sessions per week alongside ongoing aerobic activity appears to provide the best protection for longevity.
A long-term analysis of more than 147,000 adults shows that performing 90–120 minutes per week of resistance training lowers all-cause mortality by about 13%, with 19% lower cardiovascular death and 27% lower neurological death; benefits do not increase beyond 120 minutes. The study also found the lowest mortality risk when high aerobic activity is combined with 60–119 minutes per week of strength training, underscoring that both cardio and resistance training together offer the strongest longevity benefits.
A gene-expression clock trained on tissue data from mice, rats, macaques, and humans can estimate biological aging and predict time to death in people, revealing conserved ageing patterns across species and offering a faster way to test anti-ageing interventions—though not yet for medical use.
Using objective wrist-monitor data from the Rush University Memory and Aging Project, researchers found that longer and more frequent naps, especially morning naps, are linked to higher all-cause mortality over 19 years (about 13% higher per extra nap hour, 7% higher per additional nap per day; morning nappers ~30% higher risk than early-afternoon nappers). The relationship is correlational, not causal, and naps may reflect underlying disease or circadian disruption; wearable nap monitoring could help flag health issues early.
A large, nearly 20-year study of 650,000+ US adults with IBS linked long-term antidepressant use to about a 35% higher risk of death and showed the anti-diarrheal drugs loperamide and diphenoxylate associated with roughly double the risk, though the study notes it shows association, not causation, and the overall individual risk remains low; findings prompt personalized treatment and more long-term safety research.
A 19-year prospective study of 1,338 older adults using wrist actigraphy found that longer daytime napping, higher nap frequency, and morning naps are associated with higher all-cause mortality, while irregular nap patterns were not. Each additional hour of daytime napping was linked to about a 13% increase in mortality risk, and each extra nap per day to about 7%; morning nappers had about 30% higher risk than afternoon nappers. The findings, which researchers say highlight the clinical value of wearable daytime-nap assessments, do not prove causation but suggest that shifting sleep patterns may reflect underlying neurodegenerative or cardiovascular processes, enabling early risk identification.
An observational Italian study of more than 800 cancer survivors followed nearly 18 years found that those with the highest intake of ultraprocessed foods had a 48% higher risk of death from any cause and a 57% higher risk of death from cancer compared with those with the lowest intake. The association persisted after adjusting for overall diet quality, suggesting that how foods are processed may influence long-term health beyond nutrient content. The researchers recommend minimally processed, home-cooked meals, but note limitations like self-reported diets and lack of cancer-stage data, so causation cannot be established.
A Healthline study of over 24,000 adults in southern Italy found that cancer survivors who ate the most ultra-processed foods had about 48% higher risk of death from any cause and 57% higher risk of death from cancer, compared with those who ate the least. The researchers link this to increased inflammation and resting heart rate, and emphasize that overall dietary patterns matter more than individual foods. The study is observational and cannot prove causation, but experts advocate reducing ultra-processed foods in favor of fresh, minimally processed meals.
New data from the Norwegian HUNT study suggest improving cardiorespiratory fitness yields a bigger longevity benefit than simply reducing alcohol intake. People in the bottom 20% fitness had higher mortality risk regardless of alcohol use; those who increased or maintained fitness showed lower mortality risk even with higher alcohol consumption. Fitness benefits plateau at high levels, so sedentary individuals should prioritize getting active, while those already fit but who drink heavily should cut back. Fitness cannot fully offset cancer risk from alcohol, though it can blunt some cardiovascular risks.
A British Journal of Sports Medicine meta-analysis and related trials show that 'exercise snacks'—brief bursts of vigorous activity spread across the day—significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness and can lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk, with benefits seen in just a few minutes daily through activities like stair climbs, brisk walking, and simple bodyweight moves, even for previously sedentary individuals.
A study of 190,282 older adults found that having more sound or filled teeth correlates with lower all-cause mortality, while missing or decayed teeth increase risk. The total of sound and filled teeth predicted mortality better than simply counting sound teeth or including decayed/missing teeth. The researchers suggest that tooth condition influences mortality via inflammation and nutrition, and advocate further research on how oral health affects longevity.
A study suggests that the best time to drink coffee for health benefits is in the morning between 4 a.m. and noon, as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality, while drinking coffee at night may disrupt sleep and increase anxiety.
A recent study suggests that analyzing specific blood protein patterns can help predict an individual's risk of dying within the next five to ten years, potentially enabling earlier intervention and personalized healthcare, although the predictive power remains modest and requires further validation.
A study suggests that older adults who walk at least 4,000 steps on one or two days a week can reduce their risk of early death by about 25%, emphasizing that total step volume is more important than daily consistency for health benefits.
A study from Sichuan University found that rapid tooth loss in older adults is linked to a higher risk of death, suggesting that tooth loss could serve as an indicator of overall health and mortality risk, emphasizing the importance of good oral hygiene and regular dental care.