American Federation for Aging Research

08/22/2025

“What motivates me is thinking that my research can bring knowledge to help develop strategies to extend healthy lifespan, improving the quality of life so that people can age healthily. Furthermore, this knowledge could also help to develop therapies for those suffering from chronic diseases associated with aging,” shares Lilian Silva, PhD, of Saint Louis University, in our Grantee Spotlight Interview.
Read more about her inspirations and aspirations in aging research and geroscience here: https://ow.ly/7O8h50WFfwZ

08/21/2025

The Family Study seeks individuals aged 95+, their adult child, & child’s partner to identify inherited & natural factors that could protect against age-related & extend . Learn more at www.superagersstudy.org

08/21/2025

“My research focuses on understanding how this brain-cleaning system, called the glymphatic system might slow down as we age and whether this slower clearance is associated with the accumulation of Alzheimer’s-related pathology. By studying this process when it peaks, during sleep, we hope to establish that impaired clearance is involved in the pathological accumulation of toxins. If true, this could pave the way to clinical intervention that could help maintain better memory and cognitive function in those vulnerable to cognitive decline,” shares Omer Sharon, PhD, of UC Berkeley, in our Grantee Spotlight Interview.
Read more about his inspirations and aspirations in aging research and geroscience here: https://www.afar.org/grantee-spotlight-interviews/omer-sharon-phd

08/20/2025

AFAR is pleased to share our Ask the Expert interview with Mark Lachs, MD. In addition to being an AFAR Board member, Dr. Lachs is the Irene & I. Roy Psaty Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Co-Chief of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, as well as the Director of Geriatrics at New York-Presbyterian Health Care System, and the Founder of the NYC Elder Abuse Center.
Dr. Lachs discusses clinical research, care, the future of healthy aging, and more.
Read the full Ask the Expert interview here: https://www.afar.org/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-afar-board-member-mark-lachs-md-discusses-his-career-afars-impact-and-the-future-of-aging-research

08/20/2025

“My research harnesses cutting-edge techniques from protein engineering, microscopy, molecular biology, and neuroscience to advance our understanding of how the innate immune system is activated and drives brain aging. Filling the gaps in our knowledge means potentially discovering new ways to keep our brains youthful and healthy for longer over the course of our lives,” shares Ethan A. Perets, PhD, of UT Southwestern Medical Center, in our Grantee Spotlight Interview.
Read more about his inspirations and aspirations in aging research and geroscience here: https://www.afar.org/grantee-spotlight-interviews/ethan-a-perets-phd

08/20/2025

View from AFAR: What can we really take away from the MIND Diet buzz?

The MIND Diet is gaining attention for its potential to support brain health by combining elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets. But how strong is the science behind it?

AFAR Scientific Director Steven N. Austad, PhD, offers this perspective:

“It’s encouraging to see so much interest in how lifestyle impacts aging. While some studies have limitations, we do know that healthier habits, including diet, can have real benefits, even later in life.”

At AFAR, we’re proud to support researchers who are exploring the connections between nutrition and cognitive health. In recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society - JAGS, three AFAR grantees highlight the brain-health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet.
Learn more here:
https://ow.ly/ygW250WIsRK

08/19/2025

“For me, receiving an AFAR grant is truly career-defining. It provides the resources, recognition, and collaboration needed to build a strong foundation for a series of in-depth, follow-up studies that could span multiple years and form the basis of long-term postdoctoral fellowship applications, and the eventual pathway to an independent academic research career,” shares Ryan Marshall, PhD, of The University of Wisconsin-Madison, in our Grantee Spotlight Interview.
Read more about his inspirations and aspirations in aging research and geroscience here: https://www.afar.org/grantee-spotlight-interviews/ryan-marshall-phd

08/18/2025

“I am honored to receive the AFAR postdoctoral fellowship, which provides me with an exceptional opportunity to develop and execute an exciting project aimed at uncovering a novel mechanism behind age-related sleep deficits. With AFAR's support, I will actively participate in aging symposia and seminars, building connections with fellow scientists in the field across the nation. This esteemed fellowship will significantly expand my perspective on aging research and support my career development towards becoming an independent researcher in aging biology,” shares Xiaolin ‘Lindsay’ Huang, PhD, of UC Berkeley, in our Grantee Spotlight Interview.
Read more about her inspirations and aspirations in aging research and geroscience here: https://www.afar.org/grantee-spotlight-interviews/xiaolin-lindsay-huang-phd

08/18/2025

AFAR in the News: SuperAgers Family Study PI Sofiya Milman, MD, MS, featured in recent article by The New York Times on exceptional longevity and SuperAgers.
Read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/well/mind/super-agers-social-connections.html
Learn more about the and join the SuperAgers Community at https://www.afar.org/superagers

After 25 years of research on this notable group, here’s what stands out.

08/15/2025

"Age is the top risk factor for myriad diseases and mortality, but research into aging mechanisms and interventions has consistently received less interest and funding than research on diseases. Identifying the underlying mechanisms of aging and developing therapeutic aging interventions could be one of the most impactful biomedical discoveries of all time,” shares Walker Hoolehan, PhD, of The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, in our Grantee Spotlight Interview.
Read more about his inspirations and aspirations in aging research and geroscience here: https://www.afar.org/grantee-spotlight-interviews/walker-hoolehan-phd

08/14/2025

AFAR is pleased to announce a $5.7million renewal award from the National Institute on Aging - NIH of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue and expand the Nathan Shock Centers.
Learn more about the enhanced activities planned here: https://ow.ly/bPxK50WFo4l

08/14/2025

☀️ Summer Viewing for ! ☀️

Want to stay strong and active as you age? Tune into our webinar “Live Stronger Longer: Muscle Physiology and Healthy Aging” a conversation about how exercise supports muscle health and overall wellness over time.

Join muscle physiology expert and AFAR grantee, Kevin Murach, PhD, and Prevention Magazine as they break down what’s really going on inside your body when you move, lift, and train – and why it matters more than ever as we age.

- Learn how exercise can slow muscle decline
- Get the latest science behind healthy aging
- Walk away with real-life strategies to stay strong at any age

Watch the full webinar here: https://vimeo.com/883007441?share=copy