Daniel M Davis, University of Manchester Jeff Bezos is on a mission to conquer ageing. He has just recruited Hal Barron from GlaxoSmithKline to help lead Altos Labs, the ambitious new anti-ageing company with billions of investment. So what does science really say about this? Could we beat ageing? You can listen to more articles […]
Four ways older adults can get back to exercising – without the worry of an injury
Exercise is important for maintaining muscle mass. Tom Wang/ Shutterstock Helen Branthwaite, Staffordshire University We naturally lose muscle mass as we get older. This process starts around the age of 36, and by the time we are 80 we’ve lost about 50% of our muscle mass. Long periods of inactivity can also cause us to […]
Routine and growing gracefully
Our routine often creates clashing contrasts: comfort and dissatisfaction; security and danger; confidence and restlessness; delight and regret; process and immobility; skill and artlessness. These clashes, however, don’t usually pose a threat to our existence. They are just a part of our daily cycle. The comfort of ordering the same Starbucks latte as we’re out […]
Here’s how to prevent dehydration
Just as we faithfully water our gardens, so too must we hydrate our body. Every living creature needs water to survive. Drinking enough water every day is good for overall health. Did you know that water is our body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 50% to 70% of our body weight? Every cell, […]
Five ways to increase protein intake as we age
We actually need to eat more protein as we age. Monkey Business Images/ Shutterstock Katherine Appleton, Bournemouth University and Emmy van den Heuvel, Bournemouth University Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet. It helps us build and maintain strong muscles and bones, helps us better recover from illness and injury, and reduces likelihood […]
Loss of muscle mass among elderly can lead to falls, and staying put during the pandemic doesn’t help
Falls are the No. 1 cause of accidental death among people 65 and older. A loss of muscle mass contributes. Real People Group via Getty Images Roger Fielding, Tufts University Older adults are at much higher risk of death from COVID-19 than their younger counterparts, but many also face another, less recognized health risk associated […]
The wily coyote
What’s that running across Route 2? In the Friendship area of Anne Arundel County, a coyote trots across the road. Coyotes ventured east from the Great Plains of the Midwestern states. In 1972, the first coyotes in Maryland were spotted in Cecil, Frederick and Washington counties. Since that time, they have taken up residence in […]
Book review: Coffee Killed My Mother
“Coffee Killed My Mother” is the story of an eccentric mother and her quirky teenage daughter’s East Coast road trip in search of the perfect cup of coffee — and the sometimes emotional but always memorable adventures the pair encounters along the way. A first-time novelist, Donna Koros Stramella is a lifelong Marylander who sent […]
Book review: The Sweetness of Water
Nathan Harris’s debut novel is about Reconstruction: both the era following the Civil War and how we construct and reconstruct relationships. Old Ox, Georgia is a wooden sidewalked town of stores and homes, now filled with the tents of freedmen and whites returning from war with nowhere to go. George Walker lives with his wife […]
Book review: Love’s Orphan
Fans of Game of Thrones, Outlander, and other similar period pieces will appreciate this medieval tale of royal treachery and unrequited love. The story begins in Regensburg, Bavaria in the year 1251 and immediately pulls the unsuspecting reader into the heart of the fictional drama. From there, the political intrigue is captivating and remains so […]
Book Review: Buoyant: What Held Us Up When Our Bodies Let Us Down
Local author Dotty Holcomb Doherty promised her friend Janet that she would write Janet’s story. Janet and Dotty had met as many of us do, through their children; Janet’s and Dotty’s daughters were in Girl Scouts together. Their bonding deepens in a kayak on Duvall Creek, five years after Dotty started leading the scout troop, […]
An introduction to riparian rights
By Reid Buckley For a homeowner in the Annapolis area, Googling “riparian” most likely means one thing: You want to build a private pier from your land into a creek, river, or the Bay. But riparian rights — that’s a homeowner’s right to build a structure from their property into the water — are confusing. […]
Pivot! From employee to “pandemicpreneur”
For many of us the entrepreneur spirit lies deep within, just waiting for the right moment to fly free. For others, there is a deeper comfort level in being a part of larger firm or business entity. I can’t tell you what it is. Is it the structured environment, the steady paycheck, maybe the company […]
It’s a reef thing: Florida oyster study yields clues for Chesapeake
Can restoring oysters in the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers really help clean up polluted waters? For many engaged in the struggle to save North America’s largest estuary, it’s an article of faith to answer that question with a resounding yes. Maryland, Virginia and the federal government have invested $76 million so far in trying […]
OT, the rescued turtle
David has a pet eastern box turtle named OT, short for Old Turtle. When David saw OT for the first time, he noticed that the turtle’s nose was bubbling. That meant the turtle was sick! So, David took the turtle to a veterinarian. After medicine, the turtle got healthier, but it was not clear that […]
A Chesapeake time machine: The Museum of Historic Annapolis
Need a reprieve from the dreary weather and the stream of worrisome news about COVID? Some days, it seems that escaping to an earlier time period would be a welcome distraction and — if you feel that way too — you’re in luck. While we have all been hunkered down, the staff of Historic Annapolis, […]
Indoor veggie gardening for fun, health and sustainable living
The move toward more sustainable living has gained traction in recent years with people looking to help the environment and their wallets. Gardening is a great hobby to support a more sustainable lifestyle. It’s fun, saves money on groceries, and helps you feel accomplished by eating something you grew. It also promotes healthy living, cooking […]
Golf and writing
I write for the same reason many of my fellow retired septuagenarians play golf. We have the time to do what we want with our lives. I am passionate about my writing, and serious golfers are passionate about their sport. I am reasonably good at writing but rotten at golf. It is not that I […]
Try these gardening products to reduce strain, prevent pain, and overcome barriers
Gardening offers many excellent mental and physical health benefits. It’s a healthy form of exercise because you’re moving around. At the same time, it boosts your emotional health by spending time outdoors while tending to your plants’ needs as they grow. Unfortunately, as you age, or if you have any physical impairments or conditions, all […]