Latest news with #USCLeonardDavisSchoolofGerontology
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Former Google executive turned startup co-founder shares life-changing tip for aspiring entrepreneurs
In a world where venture-backed dreams crash as quickly as they rise, Caesar Sengupta , the co-founder and CEO of digital wealth platform Arta Finance, believes entrepreneurs need more than hustle and strategy to survive the chaos. His answer? Stillness. 'There's so much noise in the world,' Sengupta told CNBC Make It. 'Just sit yourself down and meditate.' This may not sound like a boardroom battle cry, but Sengupta calls it his superpower. And science seems to agree. From Google to Grounding Before founding Arta in 2021—a fintech firm now backed by over $92 million in funding from investors including Sequoia Capital India and Google CEO Sundar Pichai—Sengupta spent 15 years at Google. He helped launch ChromeOS and Google Pay , which now has more than 150 million users across 30 countries. His professional history reads like a tech investor's dream, but even he admits the leap from a stable tech giant to the fragile world of startups was jarring. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Lifetime Office 365 Download Undo 'There are days where you feel 100%, and there are days where you're like, 'Oh my God, what did I just do?'' he said. 'A startup is one of those places where it's very easy for you to get completely drawn in—to the detriment of yourself, your family, your health, and your mental health.' His antidote? Five to ten minutes of quiet. Every day. 'I wish three years back, somebody had sat me down and said: 'Dude… just meditate.'' You Might Also Like: He once gave jobs to many. Now he is struggling to find a job for himself, even begging for interview chances Backed by Brain Science It turns out Sengupta's seemingly simple advice has serious scientific merit. A new study from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, as reported by Neuroscience News, found that just 30 days of guided mindfulness meditation significantly boosted people's ability to focus, regardless of age. Using cutting-edge eye-tracking technology, researchers observed faster reaction times, improved focus, and reduced distractibility in participants—benefits that held steady across young, middle-aged, and older adults. According to postdoctoral researcher Andy Jeesu Kim, 'Mindfulness isn't just about feeling more relaxed — it can literally change the way your brain handles attention.' The findings reinforce what many leaders are now discovering: mental clarity is not just a personal luxury but a professional asset. With better attentional control linked to the brain's locus coeruleus–noradrenaline system — a part critical to arousal, memory, and avoiding cognitive decline — the impact of mindfulness reaches far beyond the present. iStock A study from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology found that just 30 days of guided mindfulness meditation significantly boosted people's ability to focus, regardless of age. (Image: iStock) Why Founders Need Focus More Than Ever For founders navigating product launches, investor pitches, and existential dread, the capacity to filter signal from noise might be the difference between resilience and burnout. Sengupta uses cycling as a physical and meditative escape, 'one of the only times where no one can reach me,' he said. You Might Also Like: Fancy degrees, qualifications don't matter. Shark Tank's Anupam Mittal says you need just 2 skills to be a successful entrepreneur In an era where the startup hustle is often romanticized, Sengupta's honesty and the emerging science around mindfulness offer a timely reminder: inner stillness can be a founder's sharpest edge. 'Ultimately,' he says, 'it's about how you confront the ups and downs of life.'
Observer
24-03-2025
- Health
- Observer
Extreme Heat Linked to Accelerated Aging in Older Adults, Study Finds
Extreme heat poses significant hazards for older individuals, increasing their vulnerability to heatstroke and mortality. Recent research suggests that elevated temperatures may also influence DNA functioning, potentially accelerating the aging process itself. A groundbreaking study published in Science Advances explored this concept by analyzing data from over 3,600 older adults across the United States. The researchers discovered that individuals residing in neighborhoods frequently experiencing extreme heat—defined as temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above—exhibited more rapid biological aging at a molecular level compared to those living in areas with fewer instances of extreme heat. The implications are profound, linking heat waves exacerbated by climate change to chemical modifications in DNA that could hasten biological aging. The researchers estimate that individuals in regions where temperatures soar to 90 degrees or higher for 140 days or more annually may age approximately 14 months quicker than peers in locales with fewer than 10 days of extreme heat each year. The study utilized three aging biomarkers known as epigenetic clocks, derived from blood samples of individuals aged 56 and older involved in a national population study. Researchers correlated these biomarker age estimates with six years of daily climate data across different geographical locations. These epigenetic clocks serve as measures of biological changes that can predict future risks of disease or mortality linked to advanced age. According to Eun Young Choi, a postdoctoral associate at USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and co-author of the study, while DNA remains constant since birth, external influences like stress and pollution can instigate molecular changes, activating or deactivating genes and modifying their functionality. Choi likened DNA to a blueprint and epigenetic modifications to a switchboard controlling which aspects of that blueprint become active. This research represents the first population-scale analysis linking heat exposure to epigenetic aging in humans, building upon earlier studies that indicated similar changes in species such as fish, mice, and guinea pigs. Health expert Nancy Krieger from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health noted that this research provides valuable insights into geographical health discrepancies. However, the study does not establish causation; it indicates a correlation between heat exposure and accelerated aging. The researchers highlighted that additional factors may contribute, as the analysis lacked lifestyle variables like air conditioning access or time spent indoors. Some scientists remain skeptical about the efficacy of epigenetic clocks as definitive aging measures, as noted by Rachel Morello-Frosch from UC Berkeley. The ongoing research in this area raises questions about biomarkers and their predictive capabilities regarding future health outcomes. Furthermore, not all epigenetic changes are negative. The study does not clarify if these changes might reflect adaptive responses to heat, such as increased indoor activity. Environmental epidemiologist Greg Wellenius emphasized that demonstrating cellular-level changes is an essential step toward understanding heat's impact on health. Significant questions remain: What roles do air conditioning and other interventions play in epigenetic aging? Can short-term exposure to extreme heat have lasting effects? Can relocating from hot areas reverse aging? Jennifer Ailshire from USC Leonard Davis highlighted the necessity for longitudinal data to comprehensively understand these dynamics. This study lays the groundwork for future investigations into interventions, such as increased access to air conditioning and shady environments, potentially mitigating heat-related aging effects. Mariana Arcaya from MIT pointed out the prevailing focus on emergency medical interventions for heat survival, underlining that this research highlights potential long-term health effects from heat, even in those who do not face immediate medical crises. —NYT
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
AI model measures how quickly the brain ages
(NewsNation) — University of Southern California researchers believe a new artificial intelligence model can analyze how fast an individual's brain is aging. The AI tool can track this after looking at MRI scans and could lead to improvements in how brain conditions are treated or preventative measures are prescribed. 'This is a novel measurement that could change the way we track brain health both in the research lab and in the clinic,' Andrei Irimia associate professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology said in a news release. 'Knowing how fast one's brain is aging can be powerful.' A study detailing the model was published on Feb. 24 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. An individual's 'brain age' can be markedly different from the chronological age depending on a variety of health and environmental factors. The model, according to the release, has been trained and ' trained and validated on more than 3,000 MRI scans of cognitively normal adults.' Harsh flu season has health officials worried about brain complications in children Its point of difference, according to associate professor of electrical and computer engineering Paul Bogdan, is that it 'more accurately pinpoints neuroanatomic changes tied to accelerated or decelerated aging.' 'Rates of brain aging are correlated significantly with changes in cognitive function,' Irimia added. 'So, if you have a high rate of brain aging, you're more likely to have a high rate of degradation in cognitive function, including memory, executive speed, executive function, and processing speed. 'It's not only an anatomic measure; the changes we see in the anatomy are associated with changes we see in the cognition of these individuals.' While it cannot currently predict the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease, that is the hope in time. 'I think this kind of measure will be very helpful to produce variables that are prognostic and can help to forecast Alzheimer's risk,' Irima said. 'That would be really powerful, especially as we start developing potential drugs for prevention.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Observer
04-03-2025
- Health
- Observer
Why do women live longer than men?
Women outlive men by something of a long shot: In the United States, women have a life expectancy of about 80, compared with around 75 for men. This holds regardless of where women live, how much money they make, and many other factors. It's even true for most other mammals. 'It's a very robust phenomenon all over the world, totally conserved in sickness, during famines, during epidemics, even during times of starvation,' said Dr. Dena Dubal, a professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco. But the reasons women live longer are complicated and less established — and the fact that they are outliving men doesn't necessarily mean they are living better. Women tend to have shorter health spans (the number of healthy years a person lives) than men, said Bérénice Benayoun, an associate professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. Women are generally more physically frail than men in old age; they're also more vulnerable, particularly after menopause, to developing cardiovascular issues and Alzheimer's disease, in part because age itself is a risk factor for those conditions, Benayoun said. Scientists are trying to uncover the reasons men and women age differently in the hopes of extending the life span and health span for both. 'If we can understand what makes one sex more resilient or vulnerable, then we have new pathways, new molecular understanding, for new therapeutics that could help one or both sexes also be resilient,' Dubal said. Here's what they know so far about what causes the longevity gap. Genetics A growing body of research suggests that the XX set of female sex chromosomes (which, along with other chromosomes, carry our DNA) may impact longevity, though it's not clear exactly how. For example, a 2018 study conducted by Dubal's lab looked at genetically manipulated mice with different combinations of sex chromosomes and reproductive organs. Those with two X chromosomes and ovaries lived longest, followed by mice with two X chromosomes and testes. Mice with XY chromosomes had shorter life spans. 'There was something about the second X chromosome that was protecting the mice from dying earlier in life, even if they had testes,' Dubal said. 'What if there was something on that second X chromosome that was in some ways a sprinkle of the fountain of youth?' Scientists haven't yet examined this in humans, but Dubal said the fact that we have the same hormones and sex chromosomes and similar reproductive systems suggests that the findings could be similar in people. Epigenetic factors — environmental or lifestyle elements like climate or chronic stress that impact which genes are expressed, and how — may also play a role in life span, widening or shrinking the disparities between men and women, said Montserrat Anguera, an associate professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, who studies this topic. Hormones Researchers are also investigating the role of sex hormones like estrogen in longevity and are especially interested in the effect they have on the immune system. 'Decent data is showing that, at least before menopause, the female immune system tends to be better, more on it and better able to mount responses,' Benayoun said. In general, males 'tend to do much worse in response to infection,' which in turn could shorten their life spans; they're also more likely than women to die of sepsis, she said. One 2017 analysis found that women who experienced menopause later in life — older than 50 — lived longer than those who experienced it earlier. When estrogen levels drop, such as during menopause, women's immune systems seem to weaken. Women tend to catch up to (or surpass) men in terms of developing diseases that were less common before menopause, Benayoun said. Lifestyle and Behavior Behavioral patterns play a key role in the disparity. Women are generally less likely than men to smoke or drink heavily — behaviors that contribute significantly to mortality, said Kyle Bourassa, a psychologist and a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development at Duke University. Women also tend to practice more 'health-promoting behavior,' like wearing a seat belt or going to the doctor for annual checkups, Bourassa said. In addition, he said that women are more likely than men to socialize, protecting them from the detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness. A 2023 analysis found they're also less likely to die by drug overdose or suicide. External Factors On a broader societal level, issues like war or gun violence disproportionately impact men, said Naoko Muramatsu, a professor of community health sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago. During the COVID pandemic, men died at higher rates than women. Research showed that they were more likely to hold jobs that exposed them to the virus, like food preparation or construction, or to be homeless or incarcerated, all of which affected mortality rates. Ultimately, it's a combination of all these factors that determines the life span gap, said Alan Cohen, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. 'There's probably a thousand ways that that's happening.' And even though we do have control over some factors, like drinking, smoking and diet, it's not yet clear how significantly longevity would be impacted by changing those behaviors, Bourassa said. 'We need randomized control trials to tease these things apart,' he said. This article originally appeared in
