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research

Start Here: Our Key Articles About research

Are Male and Female Midlife Crises Different?

Greg's picture

While researching her book The Breaking Point: How Today's Women Are Navigating Midlife Crisis, Wall Street Journal columnist Sue Shellenbarger discovered that "women not only undergo bigger changes than men in middle age, but they also by some measures have a more positive attitude about their prospects in life."

One key source was "Turning Points In Adulthood," a chapter in the MacArthur Foundation's "How Healthy Are We? A National Study of Well-Being At Midlife." It shows that men and women are distinctly different in a measure of life fulfillment.

Researchers found that before 50, less women than men feel they have "fulfilled a special dream" in the last five years (24% vs 40%). But after 50, women's fulfillment goes up -- to 36% -- while men's falls to about 28%. »more»

Experts: Middle Age is Depressing

Wesley's picture

According to a comprehensive study of data from 80 countries, researchers at Britain's Warwick University and America's Dartmouth College have confirmed what people in their forties have known for years, middle age is indeed truly miserable. Researchers discovered that "for both men and women the probability of depression peaks around 44 years of age. »more»

The Science of Brain Aging

Greg's picture

Research into brain aging is remarkable: we know so much, yet basic questions remain unanswered. In this overview, we'll look at what we understand about the brain's aging process, and how it can go awry and result in dementias like Alzheimer's disease. »more»

What makes people happy? Why the rich so poor at allocating time for things that make them happy

Wesley's picture

Why are we reading so much about happiness of late?

Fortunately for those of us who want to maximize our personal happiness, happiness has become an increasingly important topic of research. »more»

The Good News About "Empty Nest Syndrome"

Greg's picture

Hundreds of thousands of families will soon see their youngest child off to college, and that means an outbreak of despondent mothers and fathers suffering from empty nest syndrome.

Or does it? »more»

Why Gen Y's Midlife Crisis Will Be A Doozy

Greg's picture

What will happen when a generation that's been told it's special in every way faces middle age?

It's not going to be pretty. New research says that Gen Y is more narcissistic that prior generations. And that means they aren't well suited to the mid-course corrections necessary in midlife.

Gen Y's midlife crisis may be the largest in history. »more»

The Hard-To-Pin-Down "Midcareer Crisis"

Greg's picture

"Midlife crisis" may be many things -- depression, a reassessment, dissatisfaction, or unease -- but a key contributor can be career issues.

But like so much about midlife, there is little hard data on what happens to midcareer adults. »more»

Studies Show How To Take Care of Your Brain

Greg's picture

Want to keep your brain healthy? Some key scientific studies give ideas about what you should be doing. »more»

Interview with Dr. Dan Mroczek on neuroticism, happiness and longevity

Wesley's picture

Most people want to live happy and live long. Can you have it all?

The good news: happiness and longevity seem to be positively correlated -- in other words, longer-lived people tend to be happier, and happier people tend to be long-lived. »more»

The Generation Gap: Same As It Ever Was

Greg's picture

Newsweek, March 21, 1966 (link)

The girl in this 1966 Newsweek cover probably spent the next decade of her life decrying the generation gap, experimenting with a cornucopia of mind-bending substances, and participating in the sexual revolution.

Now, according to her children, she's a square.* »more»

Choose to Live to 85

Greg's picture

A forty year study of nearly six thousand people makes it clear that midlife health is directly correlated to longevity and health in old age.

The good news: your health decades from now is very much under your control today. »more»

What Will Kill You?

Greg's picture

You're going to die. What will kill you? And when?

Heart disease. In your late seventies. So don't say we didn't warn you. »more»

Assess Your Risk of Serious Disease in Minutes

Greg's picture

A Harvard site that lets you calculate your risk of developing major health problems is "one of the best health-oriented sites on the Web," according to a Wall Street Journal columnist. »more»

Middle Age Health Alert: Alzheimer's Disease

Wesley's picture

In a lengthy and detailed article, the Los Angeles Times has summarized the state of the war on Alzheimer's disease. It's not pretty and can be summed up in one sentence, "Scientists still aren't sure what causes the disease or how to cure it." »more»

LifeTwo's Interview With Cathryn Jakobson Ramin, Who Looks At Midlife Memory Problems in "Carved in Sand"

Greg's picture

Can't remember where you put the keys ... or the car? Finding yourself standing at your dresser, blanking on what it was you came to look for? Forgetting names you just shouldn't forget?

What is going on with your once-reliable brain? »more»

Our Most Recent Articles About research

Study: College-Educated Women More Likely to Stay Married

Wesley's picture

Women who want to stay married might want to hit the books and get a college education. At least that is the theory behind a study reviewing marriage data from 1950 to 2008.

A woman with a college education may be less likely to tie the knot than her less-educated counterparts, but once she's married this college grad is more likely to stay that way, according to two economists. »more»

Health Alert: Men at 40 Risk of Cardiac Death 1 in 8

Wesley's picture

One of the worst manifestations of cardiac disease is sudden death and according to a recent study it is far more prevalent than once thought.

Researchers said men at age 40 in the U.S. have a one-in-eight chance of suffering sudden cardiac death over the rest of their lives, a stark indication of the toll cardiovascular disease exacts on society. »more»

One Treatment for Midlife Crisis: Healthy Food?

Greg's picture

Here at LifeTwo we believe that 'midlife crisis' is often a normal depression that happens in midlife. So anything that reduces the risk of depression also reduces the risk of midlife crisis. »more»

Brain Health Update: Marketing, Science, and Geography

Greg's picture

A roundup of interesting brain health news: »more»

Brain Workouts Gain in Popularity, But Buyer Beware

Studies Point to Possible 60% Risk Reduction of Alzheimer's Through Healthy Living

Wesley's picture

Two recent studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) highlight the importance of controllable lifestyle habits that can have a significant impact on the risk profile of developing Alzheimer's disease. The studies (one in the U.S. »more»

Study Calculates How Many Years Poor Health Will Cost You

Greg's picture

A new UK study calculates how smoking, high blood pressure, and other health issues subtract from life expectancy. The researchers found that subjects high on the scale of several risk factors could expect to live ten years less than their compatriots who had low blood pressure, low cholesterol, and didn't smoke. »more»

Is Starbucks A Health Food Store?

Greg's picture

Joseph Alpert, the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Medicine, writes that many of his patients have at various times been told that "drinking caffeinated coffee could result in increased blood pressure, worsening of diabetic control, and might even trigger a myocardial infarction. Some of my patients also worry that drinking caffeinated coffee might cause cancer."

Those patients, Alpert says, are wrong. »more»

How Obesity Really Is Like An Epidemic

Greg's picture

"Obesity epidemic" is a cliche -- but it now appears that you can 'catch' weight gain from your friends.

Last weekend's New York Times magazine ran a fascinating article on recent research showing the power social networks have on physical and mental health. Your friends, it seems, influence your weight and even your happiness. »more»

Adult level question - Possibly NSFW

DazedAndConfused's picture

I have a question for which I have NO idea how to find the answer. »more»

Another reason you should not forget to give praise when it is deserved

Wesley's picture

Researchers using advanced brain imaging techniques and investigating the question "Why are we nice to others?" have confirmed what social psychologists have long suspected, because it makes us feel good. Furthermore, we are hard-wired to feel good when we good things for others. »more»

Exercise Could Cut Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Wesley's picture

Regular physical exercise may help protect against mild cognitive impairment, according to a Mayo Clinic study. »more»

Looking for Mr. Goodbar: Women, Internet Dangers and Addiction

shepherdess56's picture

Wake- up America! »more»

Does Cognitive Decline Start in Early Adulthood?

Greg's picture

If you think you don't have to worry about your brain performance slipping until you are sixty, a new study says you may be off by four decades. »more»

Newsweek: Medical experts "shocked" by Oprah Winfrey's take on hormone replacement and Suzanne Somers' theories on aging

Wesley's picture

After a contentious taping of a recent Oprah Winfrey show featuring actress/author Suzanne Somers, a number of medical experts have spoken out over inaccuracies and dangerous advice dispensed during the show and in Somers' book which was heavily promoted. From Newsweek »more»

Long-term study shows that the best diet is the one you will stick with

Wesley's picture

Doctors, dietitians, and dieters have all asked the question--not to mention authors, talk show hosts and just about everyone else. What diet works the best? We finally have an answer thanks to the longest, largest and most rigorous test of dieting approaches the results of which were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. »more»