Are you still sitting down to put your sock on? A new study says that it may be an indicator that you are getting old. A research commissioned by American Pistachio Growers, partnered with British actor and comedian John Thomson, teamed up with nutritionist Rob Hobson to embrace aging positively. The research looked at common day-to-day signs of aging and found that 39 per cent of those surveyed (out of total 5,000 people over 40s) wanted a quiet drink over a night and they cared less about fashion. The research revealed that this could be an indicator that "you are creeping into the old category".

What Did The Study Find?

About one in three respondents (33 per cent) said they first felt they were no longer young when they caught themselves groaning while bending down.

Other telltale signs included discussing aches and pains with friends (30 per cent), preferring a quiet pub over a noisy bar (27 per cent) and naturally waking up at 6 am (12 per cent).

The survey also found people typically start feeling “not young” around 50, although 38 per cent believe old age now begins in the 80s rather than the 50s or 60s.

At the same time, 36 per cent said they have adopted habits to stay youthful, such as taking vitamins or supplements, choosing healthier snacks (19 per cent) and increasing protein intake (17 per cent).

"Getting older is inevitable, but you can still live life to the full. It is about embracing experience, having a laugh about the realities of aging and making small changes that actually make a difference. You don't need to overhaul your life, just make some healthy tweaks to your daily routine," said John.

Do You Feel Old?

Interestingly, only 36 per cent of people in the survey actually said they feel old. In fact, 27 per cent reported feeling more comfortable in their own skin now than when they were younger, and 18 per cent of those over 30 said they are more satisfied with life than they were in their thirties.

Lifestyle choices also seem to shift with age. Around 39 per cent now prioritize comfort over fashion, 34 per cent enjoy going for walks and 19 per cent have taken up gardening or DIY projects. Healthy eating becomes more intentional too, with 60 per cent of men and 61 per cent of women saying they are more health conscious than before.

Their motivations are practical: avoiding illness (59 per cent), staying active (58 per cent) and maintaining independence as they age (47 per cent).

TV nutritionist Rob Hobson, who partnered with American Pistachio Growers to promote the nut as an easy addition to a healthy routine, said ageing is less about decline and more about awareness. “Getting older isn’t about slowing down, it’s about making smarter choices,” he said. “Simple habits like eating nutrient-rich snacks, staying active and prioritizing sleep can help you feel youthful for longer. Age is just a number, but how you fuel your body makes all the difference.”

Suzanne Devereaux-McKinstrie, spokesperson for the non-profit organization, echoed the sentiment, saying later years can be empowering. “Getting older isn’t just about limitations, it’s about opportunities. It’s the perfect time to explore new hobbies, prioritise wellbeing and celebrate the confidence that comes with experience,” she said, adding that diet plays a key role in staying strong and active.

Top 25 Signs That Reveals You Are Getting Older

A new study has shown that people who survived COVID-19 infections are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for years after the infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

OSA is a common and serious sleep disorder that causes the throat muscles to relax and block the airway, resulting in fragmented, nonrestorative sleep, low blood oxygen, and loud snoring.

The February 2026 study, published on the preprint server medRxiv, found that people with both severe and non-severe COVID infections are at higher risk of developing sleep apnea and other sleep issues for 4.5 years.

"SARS-CoV-2 infection is independently associated with increased risk of new-onset OSA. These findings support targeted screening in post-COVID populations,” said Sagar Changela, Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in the paper.

What The Study Found

Although an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been associated with long-term respiratory and neurological conditions, its role in new-onset OSA remains unclear.

The retrospective study, which has not been peer-reviewed, involved 910,393 patients. The results showed that patients hospitalized due to COVID were 41 percent at risk of new onset of OSA.

One-third of people with mild COVID infection, who weren't hospitalized, also suffered from sleep issues.

The researchers also linked OSA to cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive morbidity. The team found that OSA increased the risk of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension among hospitalized COVID patients, compared to those with mild infections.

On the other hand, the non-hospitalized COVID patients were significantly more likely than controls to develop obesity.

Further analyses showed that the risk of new-onset OSA was higher in hospitalized COVID patients with asthma and those who were younger than 60 years. Notably, women were also found at greater risk than men, while vaccination status did not vary by risk.

According to the team of researchers, the major factors for OSA among COVID patients are low-grade systemic inflammation after a SARS-CoV-2 infection that reduces upper-airway neuromuscular control.

In addition, the higher levels of inflammatory cytokines often seen in long-COVID patients can also affect respiratory drive and upper-airway stability -- key factors for OSA.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where a person's airway can collapse completely or partially. It causes breathing lapses during sleep, and the body stops breathing many times while an individual is asleep. It also weakens throat muscles, leading to airway collapse during sleep. The decrease in oxygen saturation can also lead to death.

While OSA is the most common type of the sleep disorder, other types include central sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea.

Obesity is the major cause of this disorder, and loud snoring is the most common symptom. The person suffering from the condition feels tired, even after getting adequate sleep.

Treating sleep apnea is key to preventing long-term health complications such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and increased mortality.

CPAP machines, oral appliances, and lifestyle modifications are common and effective treatment measures.

While it’s no secret that alcohol takes a toll on the body, particularly the liver, long-term health issues can arise even for light drinkers. This begs the question: how do Europeans seem to handle their booze so much better? Dr Harsh Vyas, a radiologist from Gujarat, recently tackled this on Instagram.

He compared two 37-year-old patients: an Italian who drinks regularly and an Indian teetotaler. Surprisingly, the Italian’s liver was in better shape than the Indian man’s, who was struggling with fatty liver disease despite never touching a drop of alcohol.

Here are some reasons he claims are the reason behind the massive difference between both men:

Genetic Efficiency

According to Dr. Vyas, the primary reason Europeans often appear to have a higher tolerance for alcohol than Indians is how their bodies process toxins at a molecular level.

Your body uses two main enzymes to break down alcohol. Think of them like a two-step cleaning crew which include Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) which converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance and Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) that converts that toxin into harmless acetic acid (vinegar), which the body can easily flush out.

In European livers, both enzymes usually work at peak efficiency. The toxic intermediate (acetaldehyde) is neutralized almost as fast as it is created. But in Asian populations, the activity of these enzymes is often lower. This means the toxic metabolites don't just pass through; they linger in the bloodstream for a much longer duration.

Because these toxins stay in the system of an Indian person longer, they cause more oxidative stress and inflammation. This explains why even a "teetotaler" in India might develop fatty liver from other metabolic factors (like diet or sugar), while a moderate European drinker might show less immediate liver damage - their genetics act as a more efficient "waste management" system.

Diet

Talking about food habits, Dr Vyas highlights a significant contrast between the Mediterranean-style habits common in Europe and the typical nutritional patterns found in India. He explains that Europeans generally benefit from a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, high-quality proteins, and healthy fats derived from sources like seafood and olive oil.

These nutrients provide the liver with the essential building blocks it needs for repair and protection against inflammation. In contrast, many Indian diets rely heavily on refined carbohydrates and often lack sufficient protein and healthy essential oils.

This high intake of refined sugars and flours can lead to insulin resistance, causing the liver to store excess energy as fat. Consequently, even an Indian teetotaler may develop a fatty liver due to these metabolic stressors, whereas a European's liver might remain more resilient despite moderate alcohol consumption because it is better supported by their overall nutritional intake.

Exercise

Using his Italian patient as an example, the doctor noted a commitment to daily exercise lasting 30 to 40 minutes, supplemented by walking 5 to 6 kilometers every single day. This level of consistent movement is far less common among the Indian population, where regular workouts are often neglected.

Dr Vyas concluded that while even small amounts of alcohol remain toxic to the human body, the superior lifestyle of many Europeans, combined with genetic advantages, a nutrient-dense diet and high physical activity, creates a "buffer" that helps their systems compensate for the damage.

In contrast, the sedentary habits and nutritional gaps seen in many Indian lifestyles leave the liver far more vulnerable to disease, even in those who avoid alcohol entirely.

Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about or planning one's own death. In simple terms, it involves thoughts of dying or formulating plans to end one's life. While it is not a formal medical diagnosis, it is a serious symptom that can lead to suicide.

Suicidal ideation is generally divided into two categories which include passive ideation, defined as thinking about death or wishing one were dead without a specific plan to act as well as active ideation, defined as formulating specific, elaborate plans to carry out the act.

The active ideation stage is particularly dangerous as it moves from merely thinking of suicide towards self-harm.

What Leads to Suicidal Thoughts?

There is no single cause for these thoughts; rather, they are often the result of complex, overlapping factors. One therapist on Reddit shared a poignant perspective, describing the urge as an "act of mercy" from a tired mind.

She explained: "Suicidal parts are also deeply perceptive. They see suffering that others overlook. They recognize when other coping strategies are failing and, in their exhaustion, believe that the only mercy left is to stop everything altogether".

Common contributing factors include:

• Biological Factors: Genetics and brain development.
• Demographics: Age, education, employment, and socioeconomic status.
• Environmental Stress: Negative life events, interpersonal relationship issues, and chronic stress.
• Identity: Challenges related to sexual orientation or being transgender/non-binary.
• Health Issues: Substance use disorders or underlying mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or psychosis.

The Warning Signs You Need To Keep An Eye Out For

Early intervention is key. Some of the most common warning signs include:

• Feeling empty, trapped, or hopeless
• Feeling extremely sad, anxious, or angry
• Talking about wanting to die or being a burden to others
• Preparing for suicide, such as making a plan or researching methods of suicide
• taking dangerous risks, such as driving fast
• displaying large shifts in mood
• wanting to give away your possessions or treating people as if you might not see them again
• withdrawing from friends
• eating or sleeping significantly more or less
• using drugs or alcohol more often

Prevention and Support

Studies says we cannot stop our brain to forming such thoughts, noticing the signs early can prevent drastic outcomes. Support is available at both professional and personal levels. Here is what you can do if you are concerned about yourself or someone you know:

• Seek Professional Help: Enroll in counseling or consult medical institutions specializing in mental health.
• Find Community: Isolation often worsens ideation. Joining support groups can help individuals feel less alone.
• Self monitoring: Keeping track of situations you find stressful and how you handle them. Also regularly journaling helps you understand and manage your feelings.
• Stress Management: Incorporate physical activity and maintain open communication with trusted friends.
• Emergency Action: If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call emergency services such as 022 2754 6669 or local helplines immediately.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded 171,418 suicides in 2023. The data reveals that daily wage earners remain the most affected group, followed by students and young adults. Geographically, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka account for the highest share of these cases.