The weaponization of Biden’s age

Plus more health news |

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

The weaponization of Biden's age By Rachel Sonis Associate Editor, Ideas The 2024 presidential election cycle is well underway, and voters are more concerned than ever with the age of the candidates. More specifically, the age—and as a result, the cognitive and physical health—of President Joe Biden, who would be 82 if he were to take the oath of office for a second time. But as Mauro Guillén—author of The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society and vice dean at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania—suggests in a new piece for TIME, perhaps the debate over age this election cycle is far too simplistic and, even more importantly, veers into blatant ageism. Among Guillén's most intruiging points: Humans start to cognitively decline as soon as we are are in our late 20s, but experience—in this case, Biden’s extensive legislative and political career—can compensate for this. The average 80-year-old American male is now expected to live another seven years. But Biden has one thing that many people don’t: privilege. His healthy lifestyle and access to world-class medical care mean he has a good chance of outlasting the average life expectancy. Instead of using this moment to perpetuate ageist stereotypes, we should focus on having a national conversation that puts intergenerational dynamics and policies front and center. READ MORE Share This Story

What Else to Read What to Know About Orienteering, the ‘Thinking Sport’ By Angela Haupt Orienteering combines exercise with navigating through unfamiliar terrain, which benefits brain health. Read More » Why Waking Up Earlier Isn’t Necessarily Better By Haley Weiss Morning birds aren't morally superior to night owls. Read More » Are Shark Attacks Increasing? Here Are What the Data Say By Jeffrey Kluger The rate of shark attacks has remained relatively stable. But climate change may be increasing the odds of shark-human encounters. Read More » As Suicide Rates Rise, Bereavement Camps Bring Healing to Kids Left Behind By Jamie Ducharme and Kara Milstein At bereavement camps, kids and families can heal together. Read More » What Causes Bloating—and What to Do About It By Markham Heid A look at what causes bloating, the most effective treatment options to relieve it, and the relationship between bloating and periods. Read More »

ONE LAST READ Your daily reminder to stand up The health risks of a sedentary lifestyle are well known, and people who spend most of their days sitting are at higher risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. You can now add dementia to that list, according to the Washington Post, which reports that a new study published in JAMA shows that even people who exercise face increased cognitive decline if they spend too much time seated. Read More »

If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, click here. Today's newsletter was written by Rachel Sonis and Oliver Staley, and edited by Angela Haupt.

Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters. Subscribe to TIME

TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice.   Connect with TIME via Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters       UNSUBSCRIBE     PRIVACY POLICY     YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS   TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508   Questions? Contact health@time.com   Copyright © 2023 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.