Having a poor socioeconomic background could speed up biological ageing, new study finds
Researchers from the UK studied different cohorts of patients and looked at 83 diseases known to be linked to ageing, such as osteoporosis, cataracts, or an enlarged prostate and blood tests measuring proteins circulating in the blood's plasma.
They then analysed the patients' data related to their social and economic background such as education level, quality of neighbourhood life, or household income.
Related
German scientists make a 'major discovery' that could slow down the ageing process
Those who were the least privileged showed a 20 per cent higher risk of disease compared to their more privileged counterparts, according to the findings published in the journal Nature Medicine.
"For decades, we've known that social advantage is linked to better health, but our findings suggest it may also slow down the ageing process itself," Mika Kivimaki, a professor at the University College London (UCL) and the study's lead author, said in a statement.
"Our study highlights that healthy ageing is an achievable goal for society as a whole, as it is already a reality for people with favourable socioeconomic conditions," she added.
For certain conditions, the disparity is particularly stark, with a risk twice as high in the most disadvantaged group for type 2 diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke compared to the most advantaged.
Related
Ageing is not gradual with people undergoing 'dramatic changes' in their 40s and 60s, study finds
Researchers also looked at the proteins in the blood's plasma.
"Ageing is reflected in the makeup of proteins in our blood, which includes thousands of circulating proteins linked to biological ageing processes across multiple organ systems," said Tony Wyss-Coray, a professor at Stanford University in the US and one of the study's authors.
The levels of 14 plasma proteins were affected by a person's socioeconomic situation, including proteins known to regulate inflammatory and cellular stress responses, both linked to ageing.
The study's findings suggest that upward social mobility can positively influence biological ageing.
Related
Scientists find lifestyle and living conditions have greater impact on healthy ageing than genes
Individuals who started with low education but later had middle or high social status showed more favourable protein profiles.
The studies pooled by researchers are observational and can't determine cause-and-effect, however, the authors suggested factors such as stress, smoking, diet, exercise, and access to healthcare could play a role.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
14 hours ago
- Medscape
Is Your Practice Missing the Next Gastric Cancer Surge?
A study published in Nature Medicine estimated that Helicobacter pylori infection could lead to 11.8 million cases of gastric cancer over the lifetime of today's children if current prevention strategies remain unchanged. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, analyzed global cancer incidence data 2022 and United Nations demographic information to estimate future mortality. The study focused on people born between 2008 and 2017 to estimate their lifetime cancer risk linked to chronic H pylori infection. According to the study, gastric cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Two thirds of future cases are projected in Asia (10.6 million), followed by the Americas (2.0 million), Africa (1.7 million), and Europe (1.2 million), with 900,000 in Europe linked to H pylori . Researchers emphasized that gastric cancer is largely preventable and called for stronger global prevention strategies, including the development of a vaccine against H pylori. Speaking with Univadis Spain , Javier P. Gisbert, MD, PhD, highlighted the urgent need to address H pylori infection. He is the head of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Unit at Hospital Universitario de La Princesa in Madrid, Spain, associate professor of medicine at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and affiliated researcher with the Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, Madrid. 'Gastric cancer is a major global health concern, ranking as the fifth most common cancer worldwide. The main cause is H pylori infection. If we could eradicate this bacterium, we would eliminate at least 90% of the gastric tumors it causes. In Spain alone, approximately 60,000 new cases of gastric cancer are expected in this birth cohort, with approximately 40,000 linked to H pylori infection. These figures show that this bacterium, and efforts to diagnose and prevent it, must be taken very seriously,' he said. Preventive Measures In 2021, the European Union launched the Beating Cancer Plan, followed by European Council recommendations that highlight population-based screening and treatment of H pylori as key tools to prevent gastric cancer. According to Gisbert, H pylori is usually acquired in early childhood, but the cancer it can cause typically appears decades later, often after the age of 50 or 60 years. 'Chronic H pylori infection gradually damages the stomach lining,' he explained. 'It starts with superficial gastritis, progresses to atrophic gastritis, then intestinal metaplasia, and finally dysplasia the last stage before cancer. If we treat the infection early, before these changes occur, we can prevent gastric cancer.' Despite this risk, the incidence of gastric cancer in Spain remains relatively low, under 10 cases per 100,000 people per year. For this reason, screening asymptomatic people for H pylori is not considered necessary nationwide. 'In countries with higher gastric cancer rates, H pylori screening would be cost-effective,' Gisbert said. 'But in Spain, it's not clearly justified.' Practice Gaps Gisbert is also a researcher at the Biomedical Research Network Centre for Liver and Digestive Diseases. He also serves as principal investigator of the European H pylori Registry, a multinational initiative tracking real-world management of the infection. He recently led a study assessing how Spanish gastroenterologists outside the registry manage H pylori infections. The results, published in Helicobacter , revealed the following gaps in clinical practice: '17% of specialists did not test for H pylori in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding from peptic ulcers, and 35% did not start treatment at the time of diagnosis in these cases. Only 25% were aware of local clarithromycin resistance rates, and only 37% regularly assessed the effectiveness of eradication treatments. Additionally, 74% of the specialists did not confirm penicillin allergy before prescribing the treatment. Moreover, 32% did not investigate first-degree relatives of patients with gastric cancer,' summarized Gisbert. Conclusion 'Given that gastric cancer is largely preventable, more active intervention and control programs should be implemented in these high-resource East Asian countries. This indicates that, as in human papillomavirus vaccine programs for cervical cancer prevention or hepatitis B vaccine programs to reduce the risk of liver cancer, an H pylori vaccine would greatly advance the fight against gastric cancer, given that vaccination is one of the most context-responsive prevention strategies and is highly adaptable, especially in low- and middle-income settings where we expect to see a high number of H pylori -attributable gastric cancer cases,' the authors concluded. Gisbert reported having no conflicts of interest.
Forbes
15 hours ago
- Forbes
Personality-Tuned Exercise Can Be Good For More Than Your Health
It goes back to the schoolyards of our youth: the sense that physical activities are a 'recess' from the real work of reading, writing and 'rithmetic. We grow a bit older and sports or gym class become a sidecar activity for most of us—not something we plan to build a career around. The careers we do build may place some physical demands on us, but if we take one of the 80% of jobs that are sedentary or are like most people who spend more than half of their time in front of a screen, exercising our bodies can seem unimportant or like something we 'should' do for our health but without any real bearing on our professional efficacy. So, when New Atlas recently reported on a study from University College London (UCL) on the connection between personality and physical activities, their orientation (and that of the study) was on what kind of activities each personality type would enjoy enough to stick with. That perspective is valid and matches the sidecar mentality around exercise; however, our work with FEBI patterns in the nervous system flips that around to show what kind of activities can strengthen one's personality and bring needed agility to one's leadership. Looked at this way, the UCL study further validates that personality is not some abstract, cognitive 'type' but deeply embedded in our bodies. We can run that mind-body connection in reverse, as it were, using our bodies in particular ways that give rise to four different and essential mindsets for leadership. What's more, guided by the UCL study, we can do that in ways that we're likely to stick with. The UCL study sought to establish connections between personality and preferences for different types of exercise, willingness to engage them, and results in fitness or stress levels. Participants were put through an 8-week at-home cycling and strength training program or in a control group. The cycling program varied from fast and intense to slow and easy and participants reported how much they enjoyed each part of the workout program. They also completed a Perceived Stress Survey and a personality assessment based on the Big Five traits identified by McCrae and Costa as: extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness and neuroticism (or negative emotions). As Flaminia Ronca, PhD, lead author on the study, summarized, 'We have found that personality can influence how we engage with exercise, and particularly which forms of exercise we enjoy the most.' While fitness results did not vary significantly across personality traits, the orientation toward exercise did, as summarized in Figure 1. Looking at these findings from a FEBI perspective, we shift into a model that emerged from physiology, not psychology. In the 1930's Josephine Rathbone characterized four large-scale patterns in the nervous system relating to the order in which nerves activate opposing muscle groups and how we carry residual tension in our bodies. Years later, Hunt and Fitt measured these four patterns using electrophysiology and Fitt went on to apply them in education and dance therapy. When choreographer and movement researcher, Betsy Wetzig learned of these patterns, she was struck by the link to personality and began cataloguing the connections. Learning about these patterns from Betsy, I recognized their connection to leadership and a principle from my training in Zen and martial arts: when you make something physical, you make it trainable beyond the capacity of the mind to train itself. The patterns were a perfect framework for helping people access the range of mindsets, skills and behaviors needed for successful leadership—or a successful life. While these four patterns have gone by different names, we call them by their dominant leadership characteristic: Driver, Organizer, Collaborator and Visionary. As written about elsewhere, we developed the FEBI assessment as a validated measure of these four patterns of personality. As part of our validation process, we did a correlation study with the Big Five model, which allows for useful connections to this UCL study. We found strong correlations between the four dominant factors of the Big Five model and the FEBI patterns, while the 5th factor, neuroticism, represented a set of dysfunctional expressions found in the other four patterns. We also found that extraversion came in two flavors: extraversion toward tasks (e.g., high activity, achievement striving) mapped to Driver, while social extraversion (e.g., gregarious, warmth) mapped to Collaborator. Organizer strongly correlated with Conscientiousness, while Visionary mapped to Openness. The correlations between the FEBI patterns and the factors and subscales of the Big Five model are summarized in Figure 2. In our work with FEBI as part of Zen Leadership development, we focus less on what's enduring in personality (i.e., a rigid 'type') and more on what's available through fluid use of each pattern as it's needed. While FEBI measures one's pattern order and most preferred (i.e., Home) pattern, every pattern is essential and has unique strengths. The expansive Visionary, for example, is best at seeing the big picture, thinking strategically and imagining futures ready to happen. The disciplined Organizer is great at giving those ideas form, developing plans, processes and next steps. The Collaborator excels in relationships and playfully bringing others along. The Driver brings determination and urgency to hitting targets and breaking through barriers. A probable mapping of the UCL exercise preference findings to FEBI Home patterns would predict: We know from our research into FEBI patterns that these exercise preferences also match what puts people into each of the patterns. For example, hard and fast, intense activities put the nervous system into Driver mode and it's not surprising that someone already strong in Driver would feel at home there. Other ways to enter and cultivate each of the patterns are shown in Figure 3. Years of coaching leaders with FEBI, often alongside feedback they've received from others, have shown that it's usually the case that the area they most want to work on (or are told to work on by others) is associated with one of their weaker patterns. For example, a leader strong in Driver and weak in Visionary might be praised in multi-rater feedback for their ability to hit the numbers but told they need to be more strategic. A high Visionary, low Driver leader might have a million great ideas but struggle to set priorities or get to the point. If we do activities only based on our enjoyment of them, there are some patterns we may never develop, which means there will be aspects of leadership and situations in life we'll never rise to. On the other hand, if we try to develop a weak pattern by doing something we don't enjoy, we may not stick with it long enough to make a difference. The UCL study and our work with FEBI suggest a productive blend: use what you enjoy to stretch into a pattern that matches what you need. Returning to our examples and applying FEBI coaching, the high Driver leader preferred intense activities but needed more of the big picture expansiveness that comes with Visionary. Reviewing the physical ways to cultivate Visionary, sailing had appeal as they had done that in their youth. Slow and easy was not their style but competitive sailing was something that would keep their interest. It met their preference for intensity, while also giving them practice seeing the big picture, reading the patterns of nature and being strategic. Conversely the high Visionary, low Driver leader needed more of the Driver's focus but was unlikely to stick with a high intensity practice. One of their existing practices was Tai Chi, done in a characteristically open and relaxed way. Punctuating their practice with moments of sharp intensity and then going back to relaxed openness gave them practice in momentarily focusing into Driver and then relaxing back into the bigness of Visionary. Over time they were better able to do the same thing in their work. In ways such as these, flipping the mind-body connection around so that the body equips us with the best-suited frame of mind, our leadership becomes more agile and effective. Moreover, our physical activities move from sidecar status to giving us real horsepower, which also gives them staying power in our lives. Tuning a practice to both what we enjoy and what we need, the body becomes a deeply effective trainer of the mind—not just something for 'recess.'
Tom's Guide
20 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Origin LumbarCloud mattress review: a perfect blend of comfort and support
Origin is a relatively new German-based mattress company, founded in 2018. It proudly boasts its German engineering and design DNA as a driving force in its designs and construction, and is keen to emphasise that technology and materials set the Origin mattresses apart. And that shouldn't come as a surprise, considering the Origin Hybrid Mattress is one of the more popular options internationally, and priced very well to make it an enticing budget option as well. Comfort is certainly a priority the company discusses often in its marketing, but it's equally the health benefits that Origin has designed in as a key reason for choosing the brand. In cohorts with a group of doctors worldwide, including physiotherapists and chiropractors, Origin designs mattresses with claimed benefits for your spine, back muscles and overall body health — which I've put to the test in this Origin LumbarCloud mattress review. Origin operates in eight countries, and has a well-backed Australian branch with excellent customer service that saw my free delivery go off without a hitch. Origin doesn't offer a disposal service for your old mattress, at least not yet. Sales are frequent, and indeed the RRP for my review mattress was different every time I checked the site. Much like buying a Dell laptop, if you have a little patience and don't mind taking chances, you could end up with a pretty hefty saving if you buy at the right time. I've been testing the Origin LumbarCloud for two months, which is its top-tier premium mattress. I chose the LumbarCloud because I have a preference for a soft mattress which still provides solid support overall. Origin describes the LumbarCloud as offering 'maximum back and joint relief', while offering 'ultimate plush comfort'. That ticked my boxes, so I was keen to see how it performed. As I mentioned above, I do like a mattress that lets me sink in just enough to experience the 'floating on a cloud' sensation, but I don't need a bottomless pit of sag that becomes difficult to climb out of. The Origin LumbarCloud, for me, hit just the right spot. Type: Spring, with nine top layers Materials: Wool, latex, microfibre, bamboo, memory foam, polymer and gel blend. Titanium 6.5/10 (medium-firm)Height: 33cmTrial period: 120 nightsWarranty: 15 yearsPrice: AU$2,909 - $3,965 It has a very impressive array of nine high-tech material layers designed to provide that initial softness, while also being supported by a solid base to prevent that sinking feeling I so dread. Lying down (I'm 188cm and 82kg), I felt like I 'sunk in' nicely but there was a clear point where the spring support prevented any kind of slouching. And despite that slight give in the mattress, the LumbarCloud always kept my hips perfectly aligned with the rest of my body, thus eliminating pressure points and alleviating back discomfort. That's the orthopedic win I was looking for, and the LumbarCloud delivered. The softness is also sublime and I was an immediate fan of the overall comfort. Origin rates its firmness as a 6.5/10 on its own scale, and that aligns with our own Tom's Guide rating. My body weight didn't cause a valley to develop and, yet, it felt soft and giving to lie on throughout my testing period. Even the promise of zero partner disturbance is kept. Prior to testing the LumbarCloud, I was already sleeping on a mattress with a similar feel and yet, in the first two weeks, my body went through noticeable positive changes. I could feel the muscles in my back and shoulders strengthen and adapt over that period, somewhat like how you feel after a workout. It was not unpleasant at all and it felt like I was gaining back strength. My friends commented that I was standing taller, more upright. I've tried other mattresses in the past that claim orthopedic benefits, but in my experience they achieve this by simply being very firm — at the expense of comfort. Well, Origin has managed both with the LumbarCloud, hitting quite the sweet spot. The softness is oh so relaxing and deep, to the point where I would call it 'luxurious'. And yet, it never let me sink in so far that I felt my body was in any way contorted. The long-term story will be interesting. I would expect to notice sag spots after a couple of years, if not sooner, though Origin does talk up the durability of the design and materials, so I have some confidence it will go some distance. Moreover, there's a 15-year warranty for peace of mind, and it covers sagging of 2.54cm or more. If you're not happy, Origin provides a 120-night trial, and they'll pick it up without question if you're not satisfied. All returned mattresses, incidentally, are donated to the Salvation Army. Origin currently sells four mattress models in Australia, with the LumbarCloud being top of the range. I've been testing the queen-sized LumbarCloud for this review, which was listed for AU$3,597 retail at the time of writing, but was discounted to AU$2,549. At one point, I noticed that its full price was closer to AU$3,700, but just lower down the listing page on the Origin website, on a comparison table, it's listed at AU$3,965. This goes to show just how variable its pricing is and why you should never purchase a mattress in a box at full price. The 9-layer LumbarCloud is the softest in Origin's range, it's also the thickest at 33cm. A step down in price, but up in firmness, is the 8-layer 31cm Hybrid Pro, which has almost the same top layers, and goes for AU$2,050 at full price for a queen but, again, is usually discounted. The 7-layer 29cm Hybrid Plus (AU$1,380 for a queen) is a new addition to the Origin catalogue and offers medium-firm to firm adjustability, as well as a removable and washable cover (the only mattress in the Origin range to do so). The bottom-tier 27cm, 6-layer Hybrid goes for just AU$1,177 for a queen, but is often available for well below the one-grand mark. For comparison, I've provided a table listing all Origin mattresses and their prices for each size below. Single King single Double Queen King LumbarCloud AU$2,909 AU$3,199 AU$3,350 AU$3,597 AU$3,965 Hybrid Pro AU$1,425 AU$1,675 AU$1,800 AU$2,050 AU$2,397 Hybrid Plus AU$963 AU$1,093 AU$1,233 AU$1,380 AU$1,567 Hybrid AU$847 AU$957 AU$1,063 AU$1,177 AU$1,343 The Origin range, thus, moves through its offerings with differences in the number of layers and material quality. That's not to say the most expensive LumbarCloud is the 'best', because everyone has their own mattress tastes, so it might well be that your needs are met by something else in the range. And, compared to other mattress-in-a-box offerings, I think the LumbarCloud is still quite well priced (particularly when discounted). For example, Emma Sleep's top-of-the-range mattress has seven layers and costs about AU$2,000 for the queen, although we weren't particularly enthused by it in our Emma Luxe Pro Mattress review. That said, you can get cheaper alternatives (see further down the page for more options) and get similar support, although it may come at the price of the comfort level you'll get here. View the Origin LumbarCloud at Origin As with many mattress brands in Australia, Origin also has a lot of regular sales on its site, which means you can potentially save a decent chunk of change on the LumbarCloud if you think it's the one for you. I would recommend keeping an eye on its price when the big sales come round: EOFY and Black Friday particularly. At the time of publication, the Origin Winter Sale was on with up to 45% off sitewide. Origin doesn't currently have a location where you can drop in and do a test rest, but the brand website has a wealth of clearly explained and useful information to help you choose. There's always Origin's 120-day money-back guarantee to fall back on if you're not happy with the mattress of your choice. The company will collect it at no charge if you live in metro areas, but rural or regional pickup might incur a fee — you can speak to a customer service representative to confirm. The warranty is a very impressive 15 years. I'm increasingly amazed at how well companies can squeeze multi-layer mattresses like the LumbarCloud into a box for transport — I find myself questioning its strength and build quality — but that turned out to be a non-issue. It performs better than expected, so being compressed in a box is something Origin has engineered around well. Delivery was straightforward, with the mattress in a large and unsurprisingly heavy carton (the queen weighs 50kg). Wheels are built into the box to make moving it around a bit easier. Installation was also a cinch. It came out of the box easily and, after placing it on the bed, I cut the plastic cover and thoroughly enjoyed the theatre as it unfurled and settled into its new home. Perhaps not surprising given the German engineering that Origin talks up on its site, the LumbarCloud is a super lasagne of high-tech materials. The cutaway photos on the website show that there's no cutting corners with this design, and as far as mattress science goes, it's a beautiful thing to behold from top to bottom. The topmost layer is made from a sustainably sourced wood pulp. It doesn't sound very high tech, but that's the secret sauce for much of the softness — It almost hugs you as you sink in and is quite delightful. Under that is an organic bamboo-infused wool layer which contributes to the second big win for this mattress — temperature control. During my two months of testing, the weather ranged from low single-digit temps to almost 30°, giving me a variety of conditions with which to experience its performance. The LumbarCloud is hands down the best mattress I've ever slept on for keeping me cool on a hot night, and warm when it's cold. In all my almost-60 years of life, this is what I've always wanted in a bed, but never properly experienced beyond a fancy hotel stay. The LumbarCloud has outstanding moisture-wicking properties and hot nights no longer mean sweaty discomfort. Equally, on a warm night the LumbarCloud is able to stay cool and stop your body temperature from climbing uncomfortably via layers designed to allow air flow and dissipation within. If temperature is a concern for you, this aspect alone sells the LumbarCloud. Bamboo is a bit of a wonder material for this, and Origin has used it to great effect. The nine layers also include latex for buoyant support, and it's infused with graphite to assist in cooling. I can vouch that it all works as promised on the tin. Another microfibre layer provides additional heat dissipation. Yet another layer is a 'HexaGrid' of polymer and cooling gel for temperature regulation and deep tissue support. Below that— and before we even get to the main spring base — is a titanium 'MicroSpring' layer which helps with air flow (and thus temperature regulation), as well as helping with motion isolation. More bamboo infusion is seen in the memory foam layer, once again providing temperature control along with lovely support and comfort I could really feel. Origin's bottom spring layer is also built from titanium, and the brand claims they are twice as durable as steel springs. While titanium definitely has that reputation, I can promise you that it provides good stability and is a solid base upon which the high-tech top layers do their magic. All these layers and the choice of materials are the sum of their parts, and that's the beauty of the LumbarCloud. It all just comes together as a singular experience that I am very happy with. I'm tall (188cm), and (hopefully!) of average weight (82kg) for my height. Most mattresses either have my hips sinking in too deep, curving the spine, or they hold me up uncomfortably firmly, not allowing me to fully relax. The LumberCloud manages to hit the middle ground perfectly — its lovely soft top layers are a delightful body cushion with a plushness that has me feeling instantly relaxed. And yet, it won't let me sink in too deeply. It's a progressive softness that responds well to different body weights. It's not too springy or bouncy, just delightfully soft. As I mentioned earlier, I definitely felt my body change over the first couple of weeks — in a good way. My back and shoulder muscles definitely did some adjusting, it was a clear sensation that I noticed after just the first couple of days. My muscles felt like they were dissipating stresses and coming alive, not unlike after a good massage or workout. You'll want to match your pillow correctly, though. Too firm or large and your head will be propped up while your body is sinking in. I use large latex pillows which aren't quite right and I'm changing to thinner ones to make the most of the LumbarCloud's support. For reference, my hips and shoulders sink into the LumbarCloud about 10cm deep, so you'll want a pillow that roughly matches that to ensure good spinal alignment. • Support and comfort score: 5 / 5 Some aspects of mattress comfort are very subjective, whereas other performance metrics are more easily quantified. I've gone through all the important factors below to help provide a deeper understanding of the features offered by the Origin LumbarCloud mattress, and how they might help improve your overall sleep experience. Score: 4.5 / 5 The queen-sized LumbarCloud for this review was delivered in a large wheeled box to accommodate a mattress that weighs 50kg. I was able to unpack it by myself and manoeuvre the mattress into position on my existing bed frame, although some people may need a second pair of hands to get this done. By comparison, a queen-sized Origin Hybrid mattress (the cheapest in its range) weighs in at 37kg, so the premium materials and construction of the LumbarCloud are very apparent. After removing the plastic cover and enjoying the unfurling action, it felt like it was good to go quite quickly. After just an hour it looked ready. Delivery was in the morning, and by evening it seemed to have properly puffed up. There are two strong handles on each side, making moving or rotating it no great challenge, although you will need to figure out if you are capable of handling a heavy mattress by yourself. There was a noticeable amount of bend and flop to the LumbarCloud when I rotated it, much more than my previous and more rigid mattress, but it was of no consequence as far as the sleeping experience goes. The LumbarCloud is 33cm deep, so fitted sheets will need to accommodate this extra height. Adding a mattress topper pushes this into territory where you really will need to shop carefully for sheets that fit well. Score: 3 / 5 As a premium mattress with nine layers — which means there are many internal areas where air from the factory sits after it's packaged up — there is an unavoidable odour that's released when you cut the plastic covering. This is off-gassing and is normal in a new mattress, and should dissipate in a day or two in a well-ventilated room. In the case of the LumbarCloud however, off-gassing took much longer than expected. For the first week the smell was the first thing that hit me every time I walked into the bedroom. Even after seven days the smell was still readily apparent, and when standing a couple of metres away, it was still impossible to ignore. For the first few days it really didn't diminish at all, and only after a full week did the smell eventually reduce to the point where I only noticed it when lying down. The smell disappeared completely after about 10 days. So that's below average. I should note that I tried my best to encourage the off-gassing process by pulling the sheets back every morning to air the mattress as best as possible, and on most days (weather permitting), the room's large sliding doors next to the bed were fully opened. It's hard to describe the smell — a sort of chemically vanilla scent — not unpleasant, but not nice either. That said, it didn't bother me in the slightest as I went to bed each night during that first week. Score: 4.5 / 5 Being the chief selling point of this mattress, this was a key aspect I was keen to experience. And pleasingly, the LumbarCloud shines here. It was able to keep my hips at exactly the right level that was conducive to a nice straight spine, and all without compromising overall comfort. So that's mission accomplished already, at least as far as my personal mattress needs go. Yours may vary, but the LumbarCloud's construction should be able to deliver good support for differing body weights and sizes. The multi-layered design is to thank for this. Lying down, it welcomes you with immediate softness, but the 'give' is arrested after not much sinkage as the latex foam keeps you from creating a valley, and I'm sure the microspring layer is also a big help with the support, too. The memory foam layer also holds you in position while keeping things soft, but not too yielding. This support holds up all night long, even if I'm in basically the same position after hours of sleep. It feels as fresh in the morning as when I first climbed in. Score: 4.5 / 5 Along with the great support, temperature regulation is the big win with the LumbarCloud. I've honestly never experienced a mattress that does this so well. The combination of layers allows internal air to stay cool and well circulated, and even on cold winter nights it likes to stay evenly and consistently pleasant all night long. Part of this must be due to the use of bamboo fibres infused in some of the layers. This stuff is a wonder material for staying cool and wicking away moisture. If you don't have bamboo sheets and pillow cases, I highly recommend them, too! While I'm yet to experience 30°+ nights on the LumbarCloud, there were a few hot nights during testing and not once was I ever overheated, or yanked from my dreamy slumber by the discomfort of a hot body. Score: 3.5 / 5 Compared to most other mattresses I've used, the LumbarCloud isn't the best for edge support. Sitting on the edge compresses it by about a third of its depth. This could be due to the need to engineer a mattress so it can roll up into a box, but then there are several brands that are able to achieve decent edge support nonetheless. On the flip side, though, there aren't too many mattresses out there with so many layers as the LumbarCloud. Ultimately, though, this was not an issue for me personally, even though I would have preferred a touch more support around the edges, as the firmness is more or less consistent across the entire mattress while lying on it. The means sleeping close to the edge offers similar support as the rest of it — it's only when you sit (so less even weight distribution) that it yields more than expected. Score: 3.5 / 5 The LumbarCloud has reasonably good resistance to motion transfer. Movement from another person is detectable within half a metre or so, beyond that each sleeper can feel isolated from the other's movement. Even when movement is detectable, it's minor and localised, so it doesn't create a cascade of vibrations across the mattress when there's a lot of weight shifting going on. There's nothing any mattress can do about pulled sheets and blankets, though. Score: 4 / 5 It's clear that high-quality construction and materials are in use here, with close inspection indicating it's been well made. The uppermost layer is a proprietary material that Origin calls IceSilk Tencel, and it's a very smooth – but not slippery – material that appears tough, and after two months of use, shows no signs of wear. And given Origin's 15-year warranty, it shows confidence in the material used, so I think it will go the distance. That said, it's not removable like many other covers on similar mattresses, so you might want to consider using a protector if you want to keep the white fibre as pristine as the day it arrived. No visible sagging is apparent either in the testing time, but I do acknowledge that most mattresses will require a couple of years at the very least before that starts to happen. I've been rotating the mattress every two weeks for the review period, and I generally sleep in the same spot — so far it's still perfectly flat. Most mattresses, if rotated regularly, will last a good while and, then again, Origin's warranty does cover sagging (provided you can prove you've maintained your mattress well). The corners are also pleasingly squared off, which is a pleasant surprise to me as I've seen many cheaper options look a little saggy and deformed out of the box, but the LumbarCloud is a very well-formed slab. I was also very heartened to see that the stitching around the entire product — including the handles — is excellent and I'm sure they'll withstand tugging on for a few years at least. A mattress is a very personal thing, so you should look beyond this single review for the ultimate verdict. As part of our review process here at Tom's Guide, we look at reviews written by owners of the mattresses we ourselves are testing — in particular at ProductReview, Australia's most popular user review platform — to see if they agree with our assessment or not. And turns out the vast majority of people who have used the Origin LumbarCloud like it as much as I do. It has a very strong 4.8 / 5 stars from a total of 5,581 user reviews. That's quite a testament to the quality and performance of this product. Buyers frequently spoke of its comfort, with comments attesting to it being superior to previous mattresses they had used. Equally apparent are the great many comments praising the LumbarCloud's support, with many users saying it had contributed to solving long-term back pain issues. There are many extremely effusive comments giving the LumbarCloud great platitudes, many calling it the best mattress they've ever experienced. I'm hugely impressed with the Origin LumbarCloud, and would recommend it as a great solution for back support and general health. It offers excellent comfort and outstanding temperature regulation. These three attributes combining successfully in a mattress is rare, so that makes the LumbarCloud a great buy in my opinion — just wait for a sale to make the investment if you can. The safety net of a 120-night return period, plus the very generous 15-year warranty should put any doubts at ease, as well as alleviate price concerns. Yes, it's at the higher end of the price scale, but this is a properly premium mattress and you'll very much get what you pay for. Origin's Australian operation is well established, and it's a global company based in Germany, so the likelihood of any issues with service or support is low. In all honesty, there aren't too many mattresses in a box like the Origin LumbarCloud, with its well-built nine layers of support, comfort and air circulation. The closest competition would be the Yinahla Premier Luxe Mattress that we're currently in the process of testing, although it falls entirely in the 'premium' category where a queen will set you back AU$6,599 at full price (discounts are typically available though). Instead, the two customisable mattresses listed below would be my recommendations as the alternatives — although neither come close to the 'sleeping on a cloud' feeling the Origin LumbarCloud offers. Type: HybridFirmness (1-10): Customisable (medium-soft 5/10)Materials: Foam, polyester, steelHeight: 32cmRRP: AU$1,350 - AU$1,990 (AU$79 for half-half firmness)Trial/Warranty: 100 nights / 10 years I'd put forth the Eva Premium Adapt as a very good alternative to the Origin LumbarCloud however. In our Eva Premium Adapt mattress review, we were impressed with its customisable options, including the ability to opt for a half-half foam layer so you and your partner can have your individual needs met. It also has washable covers and doesn't cost as much as the LumbarCloud — the queen is AU$1,690 at full price. However, our reviewer noted that the materials weren't as premium as he was expecting and there are no side handles, which can make moving a heavy mattress like it difficult. Choose Eva Premium Adapt if: You aren't sure what kind of firmness suits you it if: You want a better built mattress. Type: HybridFirmness (1-10): Customisable (extra firm 8.5/10)Materials: Foam, polyester, steelHeight: 31cmRRP: AU$999 - AU$2,699Trial/Warranty: 100 nights / 10 years Our Sleeping Duck Mach II review scored well on account of its customisation and support. It, too, would be a good alternative, although it should be noted that the firmer the foam layer you opt for, the less 'sleeping on a cloud' feeling you will get. The body support, however, is one of the best the reviewer has experienced. And it, too, is cheaper to purchase even at full price. It performed well in nearly all aspects although, like the LumbarCloud, our reviewer found its off-gassing smell took a while to dissipate. It does have good edge support and temperature regulation, although zero-parter disturbance could be better if you're a light sleeper. Choose Nectar if: You prioritise body support above all else in a it if: If you prefer an all-foam construction with better motion isolation.
