Progressive Charlestown
a fresh, sharp look at news, life and politics in Charlestown, Rhode Island
Monday, June 29, 2026
As 2026 Election season gets serious, Charlestown Dems announce July events
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Yale study finds nearly half of older adults improved with age
Good news for half of old people, not so much for the rest
Yale University
A long-term Yale study is challenging one of the biggest
myths about aging. Nearly half of adults over 65 improved physically, mentally,
or both over time, despite the common belief that aging means constant decline.
Researchers found that people with more positive attitudes about getting older
were significantly more likely to show these gains.
Gloria Steinem, now 92, aged well
Drawing on more than a decade of data from a large,
nationally representative study of older Americans, researchers discovered that
nearly half of adults age 65 and older experienced measurable improvements in
cognitive function, physical function, or both.
The findings suggest that improvement in later life is far
more common than many people realize.
Him, not so much
“Many people equate aging with an inevitable and continuous
loss of physical and cognitive abilities,” said Becca R. Levy, lead author of
the study and professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Yale School of
Public Health (YSPH). “What we found is that improvement in later life is not
rare, it’s common, and it should be included in our understanding of the aging
process.”
The study was published in the journal Geriatrics.
Aging and Improvement Over Time
The research team analyzed data from more than 11,000
participants in the Health and Retirement Study, a federally funded long-term
survey of older Americans.
To measure changes in mental abilities, the researchers used
a global cognitive assessment. Physical function was evaluated through walking
speed, a measure often considered by geriatricians to be a key indicator of
overall health because it is closely linked to disability, hospitalization, and
mortality.
Participants were followed for as long as 12 years. During
that period, 45% showed improvement in at least one of the two areas examined.
Approximately 32% improved cognitively, while 28% improved
physically. Many participants experienced gains large enough to be considered
clinically meaningful. When researchers also counted individuals whose
cognitive abilities remained stable rather than declining, more than half of
participants avoided the commonly held expectation of cognitive deterioration.
Eat the RIGHT fruits and veggies
Think you're eating healthy? You may be missing this heart-protecting nutrient
University of Reading
A large international study found that fewer than one in five people consume enough flavanols, compounds associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
Adding foods like blueberries, plums, blackberries, broad
beans, and cherries to your daily diet, especially when paired with green tea,
could be a simple way to support heart health, according to new research.
A large international study led by scientists from the
University of Reading, Harvard Medical School, the University of California
Davis, and Mars, Inc., found that most people are not consuming enough
flavanols, natural compounds linked to a lower risk of heart disease.
The researchers discovered that fewer than 20% of people
reached the flavanol intake level associated with heart health benefits. Even
many individuals who regularly ate the recommended five daily servings of
fruits and vegetables failed to meet that target.
Trump’s “Board of Peace” Has No Funds for Gaza Reconstruction
Where are the billions that have been collected? The ballroom? The arch?
By Shireen Akram-Boshar
This article was originally published by Truthout
Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” fund has no money for the reconstruction of Gaza, despite raising billions of dollars since January. According to the Guardian, they are also planning to grant themselves sweeping immunity for any crimes or civil liability they may incur.
The Financial Times reported that “Zero dollars have been deposited” into the board’s financial fund — but that the body has received donations directly into its JP Morgan bank account, which allows it to override transparency regulations.
At its inaugural meeting in February, member states pledged $7 billion for the Board of Peace’s relief and reconstruction package for Gaza, and Trump promised an additional $10 billion.
The Financial Times reported that earlier this year, Morocco contributed $3 million and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) $20 million to the board’s JP Morgan account, and that this funding has helped cover the position of Nickolay Mladenov, the “director-general” of the Board of Peace, as well as salaries for the Palestinian technocrats selected by the board to govern Gaza. The UAE also provided $100 million to train a new police force in Gaza — but the funds are frozen and the program has not started.
In April, a U.S. official traveled to Saudi Arabia to ask its leaders to follow up on its $1 billion pledge to the board, as it had become concerned that funds were not materializing, according to Middle East Eye. Officials claimed that the U.S. has been relying on the Gulf region to fund the board.






