HowStuffWorks Newsletter
Aging is an inevitable process that happens to everyone. Learn how to keep your body healthy and strong as you move into your golden years.
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People don't care that wrinkles are merely indicators of past smiles, as Mark Twain once opined -- they'd like to get rid of them. Is anti-aging cream worth the money, or is it empty promises in fancy packaging?
We all know the stories of child prodigies: Mozart started composing at 5, and Tiger Woods picked up his first golf club when he was 2. But what about the people who made their mark at a more advanced age?
A diet is a series of inner negotiations and brokered deals. You might pass on a second slice of pizza to fit into your skinny jeans -- but what if by giving up that pizza, you could live longer?
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People say they "slept like a baby" for a reason -- newborns sleep deeply and often. But that's not the case for the older crowd. Why does quality of sleep seem to take a hit as we age?
One theory of aging holds that unstable molecules are the cause, as they scavenge cells trying to snatch up the one missing piece to their makeup. How do we stop these greedy little electron thieves?
You're probably not wearing the same clothes at 60 that you wore at 22, so why would you be wearing the same eyeliner? HowStuffWorks has five ideas to freshen up your routine and help you put your best face forward.
The way to a longer life may begin with starving mice. It sounds like mad science, but rodents are providing us with a map to the fountain of youth -- and it may already lie within you.
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Do you imagine getting creakier and crankier as you get older? The way you view aging influences how you age. So what aging myths can be busted?
If your marriage can make it through midnight feedings, random acts of vomit and teenage angst, then everything after that should be a cakewalk, right? Not if you believe stereotypes about the empty nest.
No matter how old you are, friends are important -- some days, you just need a chatty coffee break. But it can be hard to get out and about when you're older. What's the best way to make new connections?
By Tom Scheve
Skin changes as you get older -- just ask any adolescent whose baby-smooth exterior was transformed by the arrival of acne. What's the best way to care for skin once wrinkles and lines make an appearance?
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It turns out that the ravages of old age -- the wrinkles, the loss of coordination and motor skills, the stooped posture -- has a name. It's called sarcopenia, and it can be avoided.
By Josh Clark
Taking care of a loved one in declining health can often overwhelm the caregiver. However, there are ways for caregivers to deal with the stress.
By Tom Scheve
After years of a structured schedule, the hours afforded by retirement can seem endless to some retirees. It's possible to make your retirement years happy and healthy -- you just need to approach things a bit differently.
Our society has a tendency to use sexually active seniors as comic relief, but sex isn't just an activity for the young. How does the process of aging affect what's going on in the bedroom?
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Baby boomers should be the picture of health. They've had access to vaccines and health care their parents never dreamed of -- not to mention a better quality of life. But are they?
There's a reason we don't want to get old. Beyond the wrinkles and age spots are the aches, pains and memory loss. What if a simple hormone could make all that go away?
By Debra Ronca
Baby boomers were one of the first generations to have it all: education, well-paying jobs and access to good health care. So why are they depressed?
If you're a fatigued 80-year-old who's got back pains and a shrinking social network, a caregiver might chalk up your woes to old age. But could it be depression?
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It's a radical idea that has long since been replaced by the notion that socialization staves off depression. But why did scholars think the elderly withdraw from society?
What if your parents handed you an itemized account of your childhood expenses? As people live longer, more children are finding that there comes a time when they pay their parents back -- as caregivers.
As you age and your body changes, activities like rollerblading may look a little less appealing. But does an advanced age mean that you have to put down your marathon shoes and barbells against your will?
"Be nice to your kids -- they'll choose your nursing home" is a popular phrase for bumper stickers. But nowadays, it's a question of whether they'll turn to a nursing home at all.
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Most families eventually have to deal with a heart-wrenching question: How do you know when an aging relative needs more help than the family can provide? Here are five signs to look for.
By Tom Scheve
When we're looking for our dream home, we usually have a list of must-have features in mind. When it comes to long-term care options, however, we often don't know exactly what we're looking for.