Loneliness is a hazard of old age. A phone call can mean a lot
Most of us are too busy to help an older person we may not know. But a few minutes each week can open the door to a lifetime of experience
Have fun in your 50s: it’s the key to living longer, science says
A positive outlook in middle age can make you live longer, a UCL study has found. We ask over-50s how they keep themselves happy and contented
Air pollution causes wrinkles and premature ageing, new research shows
Toxic fumes may be the primary cause of skin ageing in polluted cities such as London, New York and Beijing, scientists say
Book reviews roundup: The Essex Serpent; The Muse; The Middlepause: On Turning 50
What the critics thought of The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, The Muse by Jessie Burton and The Middlepause: On Turning 50 by Marina Benjamin
The Middlepause by Marina Benjamin and In My Own Times by Jane Miller – review
What does it mean to be middle-aged? Is 50 over the hill? An honest facing up to loss and sadness is an important theme in these valuable studies
Does early retirement mean an early death?
The latest research suggests that those ending work younger are more likely to die earlier than those staying in jobs. But is the data clearcut?
Britons at 90: healthier, wiser, more independent – but it helps if you’re rich
As the Queen celebrates her birthday, she joins a growing number of people living – and thriving – in very old age. So what makes a happy nonagenarian?
Could meditation really help slow the ageing process?
It may seem unlikely, but a small and growing body of evidence suggesting that regular meditation can indeed slow ageing, as least at a cellular level
10 ways to beat loneliness
People of all ages are discovering new and old ways to connect – from co-housing schemes to friendship apps and chicken care…
20 reasons to be cheerful in middle age
Life satisfaction plummets between the ages of 45 and 59, according to a new survey. But there is a bright side: just learn to love the dad-dancing, plentiful body hair and low expectations